Loose Ends
By Trynia Merin
Chapter 17
"Kurt…" Pyoter Rasputin repeated.
Golden eyes slowly opened, as Nightcrawler came to the consciousness of existence once more. A Roman candle had erupted in his brain, simultaneous to all his muscles going rigid. Floor had slammed into both his cheek and side. Now he felt the flat surface of the floor under his cheek once again, and saw two blue eyes glancing earnestly into his.
"Peter?" Kurt groaned. The bulky form of the Russian former X man loomed over, protectively, his face creased with concern.
"Kurt, I was so worried when they threw you in here… you were immobile for hours…" Peter said softly. "Can you move at all?"
"I hurt too much to be dead," Kurt groaned.
Huge hands lightly took hold of his shoulders, and rolled him over so he was laying on something to prop his head up. Again Pyoter Rasputin's head and shoulders bobbed into view, then a brawny arm slid to prop Kurt's neck up and touch the rim of a curved surface to his lips.
"Try and drink, my friend," Peter urged. Too groggy to protest, Kurt let his friend tip small amounts of water into his parched mouth. Cool and clear, it tasted like nectar. He coughed a bit, and then the glass was taken back.
"I assume… we're guests of D'marran?" Kurt coughed. "And you… you were abducted from Muir Island?"
"They tried to take Dr. MacTaggert, but I managed to stop them… she tried turning off the inhibitor collar, but then I was felled… when I came round, I was here… and my powers neutralized…" Peter Rasputin said.
"Where's Rahne?" Kurt glanced anxiously.
"Right there," Pyoter pointed to a rough bunk, the only one in the cell. Upon it, curled up lay Rahne Sinclair. Her body was stuck in half wolf/half human form, and she breathed slowly and evenly.
"Is she…"
"Stunned as you were… I saw them bring both of you in… not moving. Thank Goodness you are both still alive…"
"As I am thankful you are, Pyoter…"
"I was beginning to think, friend Kurt that was not the case… after the way in which I behaved…" Pyoter said quietly. "I've had time to think about what I had done. I hurt Katya very badly… and now I will never have the chance to say how sorry I am for hurting her like that…"
"Now is not the time, Pyoter," Kurt chided. "You are my friend, and though I don't agree with how badly you hurt Pete Wisdom, I can understand what it's like to have something taken from you, which you thought you could rely upon… for I have been faced with it myself…"
"How so?" Pyoter frowned, gently helping Kurt to sit up. He was glad when his former teammate did not push him away.
"Danke…" he said. "Let's just say that a former girlfriend of mine had the same intent you did… and Amanda didn't like it too well…"
"Chert," Pyoter shook his head with a sad laugh. "Now is the ripe time for such bad fortune, is it not? Who was this woman?"
"Cerise. The commander of this ship, or so we all thought…"
"Then that must be whom that wretch D'marran spoke of… he was bragging to Deathbird… that horrible sister of Lilandra's…" Pyoter grimaced, anger flashing in his eyes. Hands wrapped into huge fists and pressed hard against his legs at the memory of the biting acid that scalded his flesh, and the lance that pierced his heart.
"Deathbird, ja," Kurt nodded, shivering. "We are her prizes… Cerise was framed…"
"The rest of the ship thinks Commander Cerise perished with the other humans on the station. I was sick to think that my… I mean Katerina was killed… before I had the chance to say how sorry I was…"
"Kitty's alive," Kurt said. "And so is Wisdom… actually the advanced Shi'ar science put him back together… he was right as rain, fortunately… till we were separated…"
"Tell me who this Saturnine is," said Pyoter.
"A very old enemy of Excalibur…"
"That horrid woman wanted Katya…" said Pyoter with distaste. "D'marran demanded that I tell him what I knew about Excalibur and the X men, but I would not speak. He was quite angry with me…"
"Did he torture you?" asked Kurt.
"There was no time. Apparently they had just taken me shortly after they had sent you all to die. I was beamed here… after that station was attacked, and then they brought you and Rahne here…"
"Peter! Och, you are here?" Rahne cried.
"Easy, malishka, it is all right," Pyoter called to her. "We will get out of this… I swear to you…"
"Big brother I hope so," she whispered. "Ah cannae use mah powers…"
"Nor can I," Pyoter nodded. "And Kurt…"
Angrily Kurt nodded, and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He muttered, "I assume we are headed for the Shi'ar homeworld?"
"Nyet. We are bound for where Deathbird's base is as far as I have heard D'marran boast. The fool does not know I understand Shi'ar…" Pyoter smiled. "Apparently we are to be used as bargaining chips to force Lilandra to accede to Deathbird's demands…"
"This whole thing is getting WAY out of hand," Kurt grumbled. "Saturnine wasn't our main enemy after all… she was just a catspaw…"
"Aye, and we're the mice, trapped," Rahne growled. "Kurt, do ye have a plan fer getting us oot of here?"
"I'll have to think…" Kurt mumbled. "But not till my head clears… was there any news of the others?"
"Nyet. Only that they were left to be dealt with by Saturnine… and there was some talk of her sending the other X men who were present when you and I were on the team… back when Deathbird was thwarted by us before. She has a wish to have us there… except for Katya…"
"Lucky us," Kurt mumbled. "But Rahne wasn't…"
"Aye I wasnae, but I am a curiosity to them all th' same," Rahne spat.
"Give me a few minutes…" Kurt mumbled. "And then we'll have to think of something. If we could just stop this ship…"
"What good would that do?" asked Pyoter. "Even if the others could get free, there are no ships fast enough to catch a Shi'ar vessel… that I know of on Earth unless…"
"Unless Captain Britain and Douglock achieve what I hoped," Kurt lowered his voice to a whisper. "They have the ability to adapt one of Saturnine's ships, possibly. Kitty and Cerise were also helping them… and with Douglock and Cerise at the healm…"
"Any way of knowing if they have succeeded?" Pyoter asked urgently. "And is Kitty…"
"I think we will know for certain," said Nightcrawler. "We had discussed the ship plan as a contingency in case we were not able to get back or the Shi'ar ship blew up…"
"Did you even know that they were going to betray you?" asked Pyoter.
"Amanda had her suspicions, and I first ignored them. But Herr Wisdom was vehement that we not completely trust D'marran. Call it his 'Black Ops' training. Whatever the case, he was right… and we of Excalibur were taken in, hook, line and sinker…"
"Nae so bad fr' a nasty smelling man," Rahne said with a chuckle.
"A sickly man," Pyoter added. "But it seems I was wrong about him. Who IS he and what DOES he know?"
"He's an ex secret agent," said Kurt. "And he and Katschen met on a mission… and I suppose that's how they… sorry…"
"I am going to have to accept them as a couple, am I not?" Pyoter hung his head. "So I must learn, if I am to be in Excalibur to tolerate him. For Katya… Katerina will never be able to accept me as a teammate till I somehow make amends. Though I do not wish to…"
"Pyoter, 'twas nae yer fault. Ye only acted tae save her… so dinnae be so hard on yersel'…" Rahne said softly. "We are yer friends… and we will get oot of this…"
"What she said. WE won't let the other X men know about this. I promised, and I hold true to my word…" Kurt said. "And we must ALL work together to survive. So no more of this till we get back to Earth, nicht wahr?"
"Da," Colossus agreed. "Now… tell me about what happened to this point, and perhaps I can shed more light on what I overheard…"
Logan lifted his head from the pillow when he smelled the presence of the others. His feral side included a natural sense of time, despite the lack of a reference. Locked in his cells was that 24 hour biological clock, and it was telling him it was time to get up and at 'em. Same went for the source of the feminine scent beside him.
"Rise n' shine Jubes," he whispered gently shaking her. "Gotta see if they have any place to freshen up in this tin can…"
"Good morning to you too, you ol' grouch," she joked.
"Much as we both hate it, we gotta job to do," he whispered, and she slowly lifted her head from his chest so he could get out of the bed.
She wrapped the space blanket around her, and Logan wrapped his arm around her to steady her as they made their way out of the bunk. All three other occupants were still fast asleep, and Loganpointed the way to the lavatory. It was several steps up in advancement then the space shuttle and the artificial gravity field must have been borrowed from Sat yr 9's dimension. He wondered for a moment where he was going to wash a uniform of unstable molecules, and then realized that he had seen a store of spare clothes in a locker nearby. Granted they were more for the female member of the species, and he urged Jubes to go ahead and take her shower first while he rustled up something to wear.
The storage lockers in the last cabin to the immediate left were filled with spacesuits and Vixen uniforms of all sizes. Grabbing a petite size 6 for Jubes, he grumbled as he figured his alternatives were slim to none. Coming across stretchable spandex, he noticed that a mismatched set could work. Especially one that would fit the chest of an amazon, while the legs could be rolled up and he could wear the boots from his other costume. Luckily they were blue and red, with the dagger symbol of Saturnine on the shoulder, while long red lines ran down the outer seam of the arms and legs. He slipped back into the lavatory and heard the whine of the sonicator-cleansing unit.
It stopped for a moment, and Jubilee called out, "It's all yours, Wolvie… should I keep it going?"
"Good idea," he mumbled plunking the outfits down on a shelf. Closing his eyes she saw him holding up a towel. Giggling she let him wrap her in it, and then rush past her to leap in as she leapt out. Shyly she averted her gaze as well, from anything lower than his chest area. Their boundaries were maintained out of a silent understanding to not push things beyond what was unspoken.
Back on Saturnine's space station, the guards were becoming quickly frustrated. It seemed they could not even get close to the ammunition room where the others had barricaded themselves.
"We can't cut through that Adamantium door, Mastrex…"
"I'm aware of that, Maxima," Saturnine said dryly. "Which was why it was unfortunate that you let the one called Wolverine escape. Perhaps we could have used HIM as a can opener…"
"Mastrex, shall we outlast them?"
"No. There is only limited food and such. And Kitty Pryde will find it difficult to recover from phasing through such a substance…"
"Mastrex?"
"Think, you fools. Adamantium is one of the hardest metals known. And poor Kitty must slip her molecules through its lattice… and it's incredibly DENSE. So she must be in rather exquisite pain right about now…" crackled Saturnine's voice through Maxima's link.
A smile crept over her second in command's face. White teeth gleamed ferally, at the realization. "Then they cannot hope to use her phasing powers as a means of egress…"
"Exactly. She will have to rely upon her wits, substantial though they may be. And there is only enough food and water for two days. And the air supply is finite… it will only last a mere 24 hours. Sooner or later they'll come crawling out…"
"We will stand watch," said Maxima. "And await further orders… what of those that escaped…"
"If I know them, they'll be chasing the others. And they have ceased to be of our concern. The Shi'ar will deal with them, if their ship doesn't disintegrate first…"
"Mastrex, they have considerable knowledge… for Captain Britain and the techno organic…" Devna whispered, coughing up blood as she sat to Maxima's left.
"Are optimistic fools. No, I WANTED you to let them go, remember?"
"Of course," Maxima said. "But did you not want to communicate with the Shi'ar ship to let them know…"
"They will know soon enough. And then Deathbird will have what she wants. The X man Wolverine will placate her. And she will leave us alone for a time, so we can do what we wish. Stand by for further orders and keep me posted…"
"Yes, Mastrex," Maxima nodded. Her image crackled out, and the Second in Command slowly turned to her guards. Precious few were left. For several elite squads had been all but wiped out, or far too severely injured to keep fighting. The sick bay was filled to capacity and beyond with what that wild animal had done.
Meanwhile inside the doors, Kitty Pryde groaned in Pete Wisdom's arms. He cradled her softly, smoothing her hair out of her face while Khaos paced the chamber, and Captain Britain sat with his head in his hands. Wisdom glared darkly at the doors, shaking his head.
"Can't ya get us the hell outta here with yer magic bollix or is it no go?" Wisdom demanded.
"My spells are neutralized by this metal…" Khaos cursed. "It is the one metal that cannot allow the passage of technomagical energies."
"Help Kitty… surely your magic can heal her?" Brian Braddock interrupted.
"Don't you think I've done what I can?" Khaos snapped at him. "By the great tree of techcromacy I have already chanted my spells. To push her body to recover beyond its limits is pointless!"
"And you call yourself a warrior mage? Daytripper would have made short work of this in seconds!" Brian snapped. "And the woman I love is…"
"I did what I could! If I could do more, don't you think I would have DONE it, you fool?" Khaos snarled, turning on Captain Britain. "Why don't you try and knock the walls down with your supposed vaunted strength…"
"I can't make a dent in it, you KNOW that!" Brian yelled. "Damn you, your technomagical powers are nothing but parlor tricks for all the bragging you've done!"
"Oi you two, pack it in!" Pete snapped. "This sure as soddin' ain't helpin' Pryde…"
Both men turned to see the ex Black Air agent glowering at them with steel blue eyes. His hair stuck wildly out from its slicked down normality. Disdain filled his penetrating stare, and shamed both Khaos and Captain Britain into stunned silence.
"Now, are we done? I've got an idea like, an' I can't put it into action till you two wankers SHUT yer bleedin' holes!"
"Yes," Khaos said.
"Fine, you have the big plans, you tell US what to do," Brian Braddock snorted.
"That's more like it," Pete said. "I know ya don't like me, blueblood, but hard cheese. So stop actin' like some stuck up ponce an' get yer arse over here… and you too, mate."
"Pete, shut up you silly git," Kitty groaned. "My head's pounding…"
"Shush yerself, Pryde," Pete scolded her, kissing her forehead. "Now, these wankers are gonna starve us out see, an' we can't get outta this shiteheap, so's we gotta be sneaky like…"
"That's obvious, how brilliant of you," Brian frowned.
"Shut up, Brian," Kitty glared at him.
"As I was sayin', ponce," Pete snorted, glaring at Brian. "We gotta be sneaky like, an' take some of these here explosives an' pile them up around the doors. I'm going t' generate as many hotknives as I can to set 'em off, and then Khaos is gonna shield us with his magic. While you, Mr. Invincible man, are going to pound the soddin' doors cause they'll be hot enough to melt and such…"
"When are we going to put THIS into action?" asked Khaos.
"Not right away. Not till Pryde recovers. Besides, there's still the other X-mates, aren't there? Kitty, your mate Logan won't take too long I hope getting their arses back here?"
"I hope not either," Kitty said. "If I know Logan, he's itching to go take names and rip them a few new navels with his claws… so let's just sit and see if your crazy plan's gonna fly…"
"How sneaky is blowing up a wall, I ask you?" Brian smirked.
"Well that wasn't me only idea, blueblood," Pete smirked back. "It got yer attention, didn't it? That's what you spandex bums would do… but me… I've got something more fun…"
"Let's hear it by ALL means," Brian waved his hand.
"Idea number TWO is this: Yer the git with the technical know how, you rip off one of those panels or something and bypass the lock, like. I'll slip out with Pryde, an' Khaos here can make some hologram or something with that magic bollix to fool 'em…"
"But the panel's adamantium too…"
"Shut up an' learn. S'cuse me a minute Pryde… here, Khaos, gimmie one of those o'l can openers an' get yer zap beam ready…" Wisdom said. He motioned to Khaos, who nodded. Brian snorted, and Kitty leaned on Wisdom as he crawled over to the door panel.
"If you hadn't LOCKED the door in the FIRST place…" Brian started. Nobody paid attention, because Wisdom was rubbing his hands together, centering his mind. Eyes squeezed shut, and then his fingertips began to glow. HE extended a long hotknife, gesturing to Khaos who threw up a technomagical barrier to shield him and Pryde. AT the same time, he raised his sword and positioned it at the adamantium lock panel. Brian snorted, and looked on, waiting to see as the adamantium became steadily hotter under the pressure of Pete's hotknife. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and Kitty moved away to see him intensifying his power. Energy from IBIC sizzled at Pete's hotknife, intensifying the beam.
"Now, peel it back!" Wisdom hissed to Brian. He pounded at the stressed metal repeatedly with one fist, his hand burning at the hot metal while Khaos scraped with the tip of a superheated magical sword. To his amazement, Brian felt the metal grow stressed and butter soft as he punched and tore. With a hissing clang the panel landed and almost melted the floor.
"Now genius, how am I supposed to work on wires that are super melted?" Brian asked, pointing to a nasty fused mess of wire and smoking circuits.
"Details, details. Stand back… this isn't gonna be pretty," Wisdom gasped.
"No Pete, let me. You're almost dying from that blast…" said Kitty as she moved aside. "I can't phase through Adamantium, but I can still disrupt the wires…"
Pete wanted to stop her from pushing her fingertips into the panel, but when the lock of the main door clicked with a 'BIK' sound and a rasping clang, he knew it was all right. "Shove yer hand an' give it all ya got, Braddock!" Wisdom grunted.
Wedging his hand in, Brian yanked on the door repeatedly, his muscles straining. He managed to push it back easily, but heard the clanging alarm. "Nice going," Brian sighed. "We were safer IN here…"
"Shut up. Let's go, Pryde… an' have a few words with that silver haired bitch," said Wisdom. Kitty slid her arm around him, and helped Pete slip through the door.
"What about us?"
"Cover us… an' take yer pick of the weapons," Pete called. Brian grabbed a large laser rifle and hefted it when he saw the shots sizzling in. Khaos grinned, gesturing and drawing out his swords. Brian stopped him, and shoved the gun muzzle out to fire back at the small squad of guards.
"I have to admit this might not be SO stupid after all," Brian muttered to Khaos. A sizzling blast from IBIC shot out with the next volley, cutting down one of the hapless Vixen guards that tried to advance.
Kitty clutched Pete's hand, walking with him towards them. Unflinching she hastened their pace, and walked right through the hapless troops who were exchanging fire with the two inside the armory. Brian threw down the laser rifle and grabbed the next weapon that Khaos tossed him.
"Next," he said. "Wisdom and Pryde are on their own…"
"This is probably the stupidest idea you've had yet Pete," Pryde said as she ran with his hand in hers. They plunged through walls and guards that moved past them. Occasionally he'd send off a few hotknives to keep the ladies on their toes, while he gasped at the solid objects passing through his body. Rather his body passing through them.
"You wanted to have a nice private chat with her, so why not get it over with?" Pete called back over the sound of gunfire.
"She's not gonna be too happy I'm not playing the game…"
"Who soddin' cares? We need to put the bitch down, once an' fer all, Pryde…" Pete gritted. "Her kind won't ever quit… an' don't tell me yer precious X man no kill code applies…"
"It doesn't, if she pushes me hard enough," Kitty gritted.
Later on Jubilee sipped hot coffee and sat down in the navigator's seat. Aches and pains were subsiding with the hot oil that had been rubbed into her body, and she liked the sensation. So that was what it was all about, she giggled to herself. Logan and she exchanged a knowing glance and both pretended to be occupied.
Amanda Sefton yawned as she came out of the back, and twisted her oil soaked hair up into a braid. She noticed Wolverine sitting in the pilot's seat, while Douglock had disappeared elsewhere. While she had called dibs on the sonicator shower, she saw Jubilee sitting in the navigator's seat. Logan was explaining the controls to her.
"Did I miss flight school?" Amanda joked.
"Nope… just teaching Jubes here the ropes…"
"You sleep okay, Amanda?"
"Well enough. Actually the best in a while. Hit myself with a sleep spell…" she said. "I see you two found the sonic shower…"
"Yep… woke up early so you guys could get a crack at it," Logan said immediately. "Where's the Shi'ar an' the elf lady?"
"Right here, Mr. Logan," Meggan said lightly, her musical laugher pealing like silver bells in the small cabin. She seemed oddly refreshed, and moved over to peer at Logan and Jubilee oddly.
"Why don't I get some coffee and rustle up some breakfast bars?" Amanda suggested. She hurried into the back while Meggan glanced with a small smile at Jubilee, then Logan.
"So, what's up?" Jubilee asked, popping her gum.
"Funny you should ask," Meggan said.
"Kid, why don't ya wake up Cerise an' get her out here so's we can confirm these coordinates she planted in this thing?" Logan interrupted gruffly.
"It says only two hours till we get there… and catch up," Jubilee blinked, glad she could read the writing that had been programmed by Cerise. She had naturally downloaded a Shi'ar guidance program from the pair of gauntlets she had retrieved from the Vixen guards before leaving.
"Okay," Meggan chirped. She walked back, and brushed past Amanda who was carrying a tray.
"Coffee?" Amanda asked, holding the tray out to Logan first, then Jubilee. Both took the steaming cups, covered with a lid to prevent spillage. Jubilee grabbed one of the wrapped bars, and peeled the foil wrapper back. Wrinkling her nose first, she took a bite.
"Not bad. Actually tastes like a fruit roll up," she shrugged.
"There's the big C now," Logan mumbled. Amanda glanced back to see Cerise stride into the cabin, her feathered head bent slightly to let her walk along the aisle.
"Sorry I'll just get up," Jubilee suggested.
"You both slept well, I trust…"
"Um sure yeah… why do you ask?" Jubilee burst out.
"Both of you seem quite alert, and I'm impressed with your willingness to attempt piloting such a craft…" Cerise said as Jubilee leapt out of the chair. The aviatrix sat down while Jubilee moved back to sit in the seat behind Wolverine.
"Coffee?" Amanda asked. Cerise nodded and whispered thanks, taking one of the breakfast bars as well.
Meggan returned, walking in front of Douglock, before sitting opposite Jubilee.
"Query, Selffriend Wolverine… self is capable of piloting post a 4 hour rest period…"
"If yer asking why I'm driving kid…" Logan asked.
"IT is not necessary. Self and Cerise can complete the operation. Sit down and enjoy the ride… and thanks for your assistance earlier…"
"Fine, you take over," Logan said good-naturedly as he got up. "How much longer till we catch up? Looks to me like we're almost on top of 'em…"
"Affirmative," Cerise said. "Suggest that everyone select a seating module and operate the restraints…"
"She means sit down, and return your tables and seats to their upright position," Amanda said with a wry smile. Everyone glanced at her, and she shrugged.
"Someone had to say it," Jubilee chuckled. Meggan slid into a seat, while Amanda did the same. Logan slipped into the seat immediately behind Jubilee, and managed to belt himself in while they felt the ship lurch.
"Exiting Subspace now. Preparing to track and overtake objective…" Douglock said.
"How long? How far away?" Logan asked, glancing around Jubilee's seat back.
"They are several light minutes ahead, at cruising speed. Deploy diversionary tactic…" she said. Her hands slipped over the control panels, and slowly a reddish glow crackled through the circuitry. It took the form of a reddish mist, her hands moving over the panels to extend the effect around as Douglock made the necessary adjustments.
"So this is the diversion?" asked Amanda.
"Yes… my light generation capacity can duplicate a nebulous cloud… and deflect their probes… while Douglock effects a random course sheering…" Cerise nodded.
"So, we link up with them, an' cut our way in, right?" Logan asked.
"Check," Cerise nodded. "We are in proximity… prepare yourselves… we have fifteen earth minutes…"
"Suits on, everyone," said Wolverine. They grabbed at their spacesuits, quickly tugging them on.
"We coulda put them on before… DUH…" Jubilee made a face.
"Not now Jubes," he groaned.
"Relax, and save it for the mission," said Amanda with a slow smile.