Chapter 12
In the Kitchen of the X mansion, Pete Wisdom sat across from the man who had raised Kitty Pryde. He chuckled, realizing what they said about kids wanting to marry their dads. He was hairy, short, smoked, and swore like a sailor. Just the kinda guy Pete Wisdom could relate to. Also he wasn't a bloody yank, he was Canadian. Not too bad.
"Okay Bub, mind telling me what's going on here?" Wolverine asked.
"Bloody spandex. Do ya always have to wear bloody spandex?" Wisdom griped.
"Not my idea, Brit," said Wolverine as he yanked off his hood. Wisdom saw the dark brown eyes fixing into his with a feral stare that unsettled him. Damn he thought HE was intimidating. This guy cornered the market. No WONDER Kitty wasn't phased by his rude boorish exterior.
"So, what do we do with him, Wolvie?" Jubilee asked, as she strode in, and Wisdom put his hand over his ear.
"Another bleedin' kid…"
"Shut up, dweeb. Only reason I don't paff ya is cause Wolvie wants to talk… otherwise… watch it!" she said, snapping gum into his face.
"She always like this?" Wisdom mumbled.
"Sometimes she's much better," Wolverine said as she plunked a beer down next to him, alongside an ash tray. Wisdom fumbled for his pack of Marlboroughs. "So, what's going on?"
"Kitty Pryde is stuck. She's been knicked by some silver haired bitch named Saturnyne who's got a nasty gripe against Kitty. And Kurt an' the others wot comprise Excalibur are in over their heads. It's two short planks, guv. An' unlessen you an' me get our bums up there…"
"Now let me get this straight, Brit. Yer sayin' that Kitty's trapped by some silver haired bitch on a space station, and she needs our help?" Wolverine asked as he lifted a beer to his lips. Tucking a cigar between his lips, he motioned to Jubilee. She snapped her fingers beneath it, and it lit.
"You got the story right enough," said Wisdom. "But get the lead outta yer bum, an' round up the other X men…"
"Sorry bub, but we're it," Wolverine said as Wisdom slapped a hand to his head. "So who exactly ELSE is mixed up in this?"
"Kurt's gone, and so is your iron skinned mate from Russia… and Rahne, and Amanda…"
"Wait, wait WAIT!" Jubilee waved a hand. "Look, Wolvie who IS this guy?"
"Shh, quiet I'm tryin' to find out… so yer Kitty's boyfriend, huh? How long?"
"Long enough. I take it you're her 'Wolvie', the bloke what trained her n' all in those ninja moves… good job by the way… but she's gonna pop her clogs unless you help me like…"
"I get the message, British," he said as Wisdom let a puff of smoke curl up in his face. "So, we've gotta get ourselves up there. Only one small detail… we don't have any way…"
"Brilliant," mumbled Wisdom. "Look, I got here through some mirror thing like, an' Amanda said…"
"Wolvie, how ARE we gonna get there to help them, if they are in trouble?"
"Details, kiddo," said Wolverine. "Okay, I believe ya for now. Obviously you're stupid enough to face ME without havin' told me you two was together… so you're either desperate or crazy. An' since yer not crazy and ya smell like Pun'kin, I'll buy this whole mess. Only thing is that we gotta get our butts up there…"
"Figures," Wisdom mumbled. "God I need a peg…"
"Right here," said Wolverine, getting up and wandered over to grab a bottle from the liquor cabinet. "Get two glasses, kiddo…"
"Okay, but I still…" Jubilee trailed off as she walked over and grabbed two whisky glasses from the sideboard. Logan pulled off the stopper and poured two portions of whisky, plunking ice in them, and shoving one before the Ex Black Air agent.
"Thanks, mate. Much obliged… an' just the way I likes it too…" Wisdom nodded, knocking back half the glass as Logan did the same.
"Not bad for a kid who has no healin' factor," Wolverine lifted an eyebrow. "Now, we're agreed. Jubes an' I will help ya spring our friends, and nail this silver haired broad…"
"Wolvie… how are we gonna… we can't just call the Starship Enterprise an' BEAM up…" Jubilee folded her hands across her chest.
"Are we gonna take the kid?" asked Wisdom with a groan.
"She's part o' the package deal," said Wolverine. "She goes, or I stay… deal?"
"Fine, let's just get moving," Wisdom nodded. "I assume ya got a way around the sitch, old man?"
"As a matter of fact, yeah. C'mon let's go to the hanger, and see what ol' Blue Boy has rigged up…" Wolverine motioned. Taking his glass he shoved his cigar between his lips and motioned Wisdom to follow. At a distance Wisdom did so, taking his own glass and thanking his lucky stars Wolverine would tolerate his smoking. That alone was promising.
"Amanda, are you all right?" asked Khaos as he supported her.
"Yes I will be… thanks to your help… I hope that Wisdom has the good sense to come back to the mirror…"
"You told him to 'get up here'… as self recalls, there is no method of space flight transportation available on the same level of technology as the Shi'ar…"
"He has to come… if they know it's me who sent him… they'll remember… I hope," Amanda prayed as she sat there.
"Douglock, are they finding us?" Khaos asked, helping Amanda to sit down.
"Negative, self friend Khaos. We are undetectable. Am continuing to monitor our trajectory… and that of the others…"
"Can you use these machines to show us what is going on with Cerise and Kitty?" asked Khaos.
"Affirmative. Watch on the viewscreen…" said Doughlock, manipulating several circuits. Gently Khaos helped Amanda to sit in a chair near the console, as Douglock stood up. They hunched around the small display, while the screen flickered on.
Images crackled, and Khaos felt his heart stop at the sight of Cerise bound by her wrists, next to the slender form of Kitty Pryde. The cell door slid open, to admit the tall slender silver haired figure of Saturnine. She drew a gloved hand through her straight locks, and strode over towards Kitty.
Gently she patted Kitty's cheek, whispering, "Wake up, Kitty… I have to speak to you…"
"What do you want?" Kitty snapped.
"Your attention. You seemed lonely, so I brought you some company…"
"Cerise… did you hurt her?"
"She is well enough, for the moment…" said Saturnine. "Whether she remains that way depends on you…"
"Really, this is old… using hostages…"
"Tried and true methods work the best…" said Saturnine with an overdramatic sigh. "And don't think I've forgotten about your little friends from Excalibur. I know they're hiding somewhere and I will find them at my leisure. No doubt they'll come trying to rescue you… but they won't succeed…"
"So, what do I have to do?"
"Become my disciple and heir. Simple as that. And give me a chance to show you what I have planned. Who knows, you might even LIKE it…"
"How do I know you'll let them go?"
"I might, and I might not. Depends on my mood. You see, it would be stupid of me to just release them when they could tell everyone where I'm hiding…"
"If you are so powerful, they will mean nothing… and you could find a way to use them," Kitty mumbled.
"True. I ask only for a day of your time. To consider what I have to offer. If I don't release them, they can either live in luxury or in misery. Choice is up to you."
"So you don't plan on releasing them?"
"Not till I know you're sincere in joining me, Shadowcat," said Saturnine. "But if you at least promise to listen, no harm will come to them… yet…"
"What about your Shi'ar friends?"
"Deathbird is power hungry enough to become my ally. She will keep her dear sister in the dark. I had not mentioned that part of the deal. I can even help Cerise here become free. If Lilandra thinks her dead, then she is free from her obligation as a Royal Praetorian Imperial guard. She and her lover can go wherever they please…"
"You sold my friends to the Shi'ar!" Kitty yelled.
"But you and I can get them back, in exchange for a better deal. You see, kitty dear, we need each other. And I think that working with me would be far preferable than becoming a prize of Princess Deathbird…"
"You don't trust her, do you?"
"Not really. It's mutual convenience. And I don't think our alliance will last… at least not after she gets the Imperial crown and deposes Lilandra…" Saturnine said as she tapped her chin, and her silver lips twisted into a bizarre smile. "Good alliances as SOO hard to find nowadays…"
"So, I help you help me? Is that it?" Kitty asked bitterly.
"That's about the size of it, dear heart," said Saturnine. "And just in case you have some idea bout being noble, I'm keeping the canary lady here as a hostage. The more you listen and learn the better her treatment. And I might even let your friends try and rescue her…"
"Fine… then let's get started," Kitty mumbled.
"Magna, bring her some suitable clothes and food," said Saturnine, as she clapped her hands. They unchained Kitty, and snapped her arms in cuffs behind her back.
"Shall we carry her along to your chambers?"
"Yes. Follow me… trust is not so easily won. But we will work together," Saturnine winked as she stroked Kitty's cheek. Cerise moaned as they carried Kitty out, after the strutting form of Saturnine.
"Kitty, don't! You don't know what she's capable of!" Cerise cried.
"Swine," hissed Khaos. "No doubt she intends to use pervasive means to bind the child to her…"
"You know what she's going to do, huh?" Amanda sighed. "The old master slave thing… typical…"
"That woman loves no men save those she can make her slaves. Her real love is for her own sex," said Khaos. "Such things are commonplace on my world. For one sex to love the same is not uncommon and accepted far more than in your world. But this woman plans to use that 'love' as a weapon, twisted and sick…"
"Yeah, no kidding," Amanda winced. "We've GOT to get Wisdom's butt back here…"
"Query, will you be informed when Wisdom is in proximity?"
"Wyther is watching the mirror in Kitty's old room. I hope that Wisdom realizes all he needs to do is to stand by it…"
"I shall ready the spell, sorceress," said Khaos as he reached for his statue. "I should have the requisite power to cast it, with your guidance, so to save your energies…"
"Thank you," she nodded as she turned her chair and gestured. Eldritch power flared, and crackled. Undetectable by the probes, the technomagical power of IBIC wreathed her and Khaos, flickering into the heart of the pentagram. A disk widened, and they could peer through as Wyther's face blinked up.
"Mistress, he's just wandering into the room now… took him long enough…"
"Get ready to grab him and whoever else," said Amanda. "I can't hold this for long…"
"Gotcha, boss," said Wyther as he sank out of sight. Glancing beyond him, Douglock saw a chamber below, and the hole in the pentagram's center was a portal, similar to one of Magic's stepping discs. He remembered Magik's ability, and queried if Amanda had the same aspirations to Limbo as she.
Back in West Chester, on Earth, Wolverine and Jubilee were giving their gatecrasher a quick tour of the Mansion. So far Wisdom was mildly impressed. Not to mention annoyed at the two short tour guides poking him with a claw, or threatening to 'Paff' him if he didn't behave himself. Jubilee was a class A stinker, in his eyes. Annoying as HELL, even worse then Pryde.
"Bub, the way in is the way out," said Wolverine as he dragged them both up to Jubilee's room. "You say Amanda used some spells to get ya here…"
"Yeah but…"
"That's the way up there…"
"You believe this?" Jubilee asked, shaking her head.
"C'mon kid," Wolverine said as he grabbed her wrist and dragged her with him. Wisdom chuckled to himself and reached for Jubilee's doorknob.
"Buster, you'd better not trash anything in my room, or I'll…"
"Easy, luv, I'm not gonna do much, except use your mirror," Wisdom chuckled as Jubilee fumed. He opened her door and stepped in, while Wolverine restrained Jubilee with one hand. He kicked stuffed toys out of the way, provoking an angry squeal from the 16-year-old girl, that Logan held back.
"Hey, oi mate, where are ya? We're here!" Wisdom yelled as he approached her mirror. A sock hung overtop, while pictures of boy bands were tucked into the frame. Jubilee pulled a face as Wisdom generated a hot knife and tried to sink it into the mirror.
"You stop that!" Jubilee snapped.
"Settle down, kid," Logan urged, grabbing both her shoulders and pushing her gently down. "He knows what he's doing…"
"Yeah, right," Jubilee mumbled. Her eyes widened as the mirror surface rippled and undulated. Soon a dark demonic shape appeared, and she shivered. Logan's hand tightened protectively on her shoulder.
"Damn, he wasn't kidding," Logan mumbled, pulling his mask on. Both wore space suits, their helmets strapped behind them on hinges that would swing down and lock in place. They were the thinsulated Shi'ar ones, thin as a quarter inch, and indestructible polymer woven with circuitry and breathing chambers that held atmosphere regeneration tanks. They shrunk to fit whoever pulled them on, and Wisdom wore one as well.
"Right this way, Brit," said Wyther, reaching out a claw and grabbing Wisdom. The agent gasped as he was yanked forwards.
"Oi! Watch it, guv!" he barked. Jubilee raised her hands to paff, but Logan stopped her.
"C'mon, that's our cue," Logan said as he grabbed her around the waist and dragged her inside. Behind them the mirror undulated and reformed, till nothing was visible.
"I'm gonna hurl," Jubilee whined as she felt herself bobbing in something strange.
"Dimensional sickness. It'll pass," said Wyther.
"So, you're the guy around here, huh?" Wolverine asked as Jubilee leaned against him.
"Ugh, I know how she feels," Wisdom held his mouth, turning a decided shade of green.
"Up you go," said Wyther, grabbing them and throwing wisdom up, and then motioning to Logan.
"Gimme a boost," Logan said, grabbing Jubilee and flipping over. He landed with his foot on Wyther's massive claw, and it launched him upward into the ceiling. Wisdom felt his stomach turn inside out and landed with a thud on his backside.
"I thought they'd come up through the floor," Douglock said as he observed. Still golden threads were binding him to the console.
"Did you get help?" Amanda panted.
"It's on its way,' Wisdom heaved, and collapsed on his hands and knees. He held his mouth, and his stomach heaved inside out.
With a thud, two figures landed, and Amanda squealed with relief. "Wolverine… thank Goodness…"
"Amanda?" he asked, blinking up at her.
"Who's the kid?"
"I'm not a kid," Jubilee groaned, and got up. Just as quickly, she topped over and landed against Wolverine. She hugged her stomach, resisting all urges to puke then and there.
"Easy kid, I gotcha," Wolverine mumbled, choosing to sit down and let Jubilee rest her head and shoulders on his lap so she would not lose her lunch.
"You are indeed a strange one, but no so strange," Khaos commented as he stood over Wolverine. "I sense you have the blood of a warrior… and are an ancient one like myself…"
"Yeah, yeah, who the flamin' heck are ya pal? Ya look like the misfit…"
"He's Khaos… Khaos, meet Wolverine… and who is this?"
"Jubilee…" Wolverine said. "She's with me… so, what's the situation… and where's the elf… an' Pun'kin… an someone better see if he's okay…"
"Pete," Amanda sighed as Wisdom held his stomach, a steaming mess in front of him. She chanted a small spell to relieve his nausea, and he rolled over and sat down, heaving. Jubilee moaned, leaning her head on wolverine's shoulder. Gently he got up, and helped her to sit in a nearby chair.
"Easy, little one… it isn't pretty the first time you go through a door is it?" Amanda soothed, rubbing her forehead.
"Don't call me little, lady," Jubilee mumbled. She flinched as someone shoved a container of water into her hand. Wolverine kept one hand on her shoulder as she sipped it shakily.
"So, is it just me, or do ya look just like Warlock? What gives?" Wolverine frowned as he sniffed Douglock.
"Self friend is Douglock. Not Doug, not Warlock…" said Douglock. "I recognize you, who was friend to Warlock's self…"
"Still flamin talks the same," Wolverine shook his head. "Yo, Pete, ya all right?"
"I'll live, old man," Pete Wisdom sighed. Logan reached into his boot and threw something over. He caught the hip flask and sipped some brandy.
"You know the situation?" asked Amanda.
"Yeah, Wisdom here filled me in… so, where are they holding the bird lady and the Pun'kin?"
"WE must save Kitty and Cerise…" said Khaos. "Look there…"
"So THAT'S the broad?" Wolverine saw as Khaos pointed to Kitty being carried into a set of rooms. "Son of a…"
HE growled, wrists flexing and Jubilee felt a pang of jealousy. She leapt up, standing near Amanda and glancing at Wisdom. "I feel the same way, mate," said Wisdom. "Believe me…"
"We gotta play this caper careful… if I know her Pun'kin's stringing' her along…" said Wolverine slowly. "An' we gotta catch her unawares at the right moment…"
"You got a plan mate?"
"Yeah, bare bones of one," said Wolverine. "What we're gonna do is this…"
Saturnine mumbled a curse as she turned away from where Kitty was lying. The shadowcat had been strapped to a bed with chains; her costume replaced with a uniform identical to Saturnyne's. Wine and fresh fruit were sitting on a tray nearby, and Saturnine perched on a chair at Kitty's bedside.
"How long has she been like this?"
"She did that the moment that we brought her here…"
"No doubt a ninja trick to buy us time," said Saturnine. "But it won't help her. Any sign of the others?"
"None. Doubtless they are hiding from us…"
"Yes. I wonder how long before they try their stupid attempt to save Kitty," Saturnine yawned. "No matter, let's wait and see what they'll do. In the meantime, leave me alone…"
"Yes, Mastrex," nodded the Kommander. She saluted and left them alone. Saturnine sat down on the bed next to kitty and smoothed her hair out of her face. She pressed a kiss to Kitty's brow and smiled.
"I shall wait, my pretty Kitty. I waited for several years; I can wait a few more hours. I know your friends are still there. But we'll have some fun trying to catch them, one by one… won't we?"
"Do I HAVE to wear this stupid getup?" asked Jubilee as Amanda helped her into a tight blue uniform.
"Yes dearie, we do. So just relax…" said Amanda. She zipped up her own costume, and Jubilee fumbled with her own.
"Seriously weird stuff. This is tighter than Psilocke's getup… so do we pass inspection?" Jubilee asked.
"I think… the only problem is, we're a bit shorter then most of the guards," said Amanda with a sigh. "Which makes me wonder…"
A knock came at the door, and they saw Wisdom poke his head in. "You birds ready?"
"Ready as ever," said Amanda.
"Good, so'm I," Wisdom nodded. Jubilee burst into laughter when she saw Wisdom's getup.
"You gotta be kidding me!" she howled with laughter.
"Wot? Me uniform make me look fat?" he said in a falsetto.
"This spell will only work for 12 hours," Khaos said. "Be glad that it is merely an illusion."
"He's a she?" asked Jubilee. "Major WEIRD!"
"I'll say. You actually don't look half bad," Wolverine mumbled. "An' that's a scary thought…"
"Now myself," said Khaos. Powers merged and blended, and before them stood a convincing female elf, complete with the curves and sinuous body features. She wore a tight blue uniform identical to the other three. Wisdom stood next to them, his hair shoulder length, and his body with small curving hips and breasts. Not extremely voluptuous like those of the female Khaos, but his angular face was at least passably feminine under the cloaking spell.
"Mine is an actual transformation. Yours is but an illusion, to gain you access to Kitty's chambers," said Khaos. "Now… let's go…"
"All right. Be careful, 'Manda, Jubes…" said Wolverine as he nodded.
"You too, Wolvie," said Jubilee. He nodded and rushed off into the shadows. Soon he was long gone.
"Wisdom, you go get Kitty. Khaos, you spring Cerise. Jubes and I will get to Meggan and Captain B," said Amanda. "While Wolverine and Douglock do their deed… this time I hope we won't screw up…"
"Luck to you both," said Khaos. Four dollybird guards went their separate ways, donning the spherical helmets of the guard to hide them.