Chapter 18

"Let's wrap this up," said Wolverine. Moments ticked by, and they saw the large insectoid shape of Cerise's scoutbug blow into view. IT grew from a distant speck into a large hulking shape clad in green metal. Arrogantly it hurtled through space, completely ignoring the smaller craft that glowed with heat.

"Is it me or is it HOT in here?" asked Jubilee, wiping her forehead.

"Engines are overheating," said Douglock. "I was afraid of this…"

"Amanda, get ready to teleport us," said Wolverine. "Make sure this bucket o' bolts can hold together LONG enough for us to get out…"

"Standing by," Amanda said.

"It's firing at us!" Meggan said with surprising calm. With one hand she pointed to the ship turning about, its gun pods gleaming with red energies.

"Shit," Amanda gasped.

"I apologize… but they have spotted us," Cerise murmured, backing away from the panel.

"Get CLOSE!" Amanda shouted. Meggan grabbed Douglock and pulled him free of the console, while Wolverine grabbed Jubilee and yanked her to sit by where Amanda stood. Silver energies spun and wove from her fingertips. Tracing intricate patterns in the air, Amanda Sefton watched as Cerise punched another key and threw herself at the group.

Sizzling energies shot through, arcing around the ship. Sparks exploded from the panel, and Jubilee grabbed Logan and buried her face in his chest. His arms tightened around her, hugging her closely to his body as he turned away to shield her. A sick sensation seized them as the world exploded into silver and gold, then blinding radiance.

Jubilee felt someone shaking her, and moaned. She blinked up into a black and gold masked face, and knew that Logan had recovered first due to his healing factor. That and the fact that the others lay clustered in a loose circle around the prostrate Daytripper. Her blonde hair lay askew of her face, alongside the tall body of Cerise. Meggan curled up, clutching Douglock to her. He stared widely, muttering a stream of syllables that sounded like, "110...111000…101010101…"

"Damn, he's speakin' in binary," Logan mumbled. "You okay Jubes?"

"We're not dead, right?" she asked.

"I don't think so," Logan said as he pulled his mask back temporarily, and wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of one hand. "Besides, this Canucklehead don't kill easily…"

"Speak for yourself, I ache all over," Jubilee groaned. She knew better than to try and stand up, because his grip of adamantium held her down with her head and shoulders against his sturdy arm, and her body curled in his lap.

"Amanda," he called softly. "Hey Tinkertoy, snap outta it!"

"101010… accessing systems… imbalance compensated for… systems back on line… Selffriend Wolverine we are onboard the spacecraft…"

"No shit, sherlock," Jubilee croaked.

"Is self injured… Amanda and Cerise are unconscious… but Meggan…'

"I'm okay," Meggan said, slowly stirring and letting go of him. "The others are still alive… although our ship is no more…"

"Where did 'Manda port us to, kid?" he asked.

"To the lower decks of the ship… I sense biological readings in proximity, resembling Shi'ar life forms, and more distant traces resembling humans…"

"I smell 'em… not far away. You up to tracking, Megs?"

"I am if you are… but the others…"

"Stay with 'em Douglock. You feel well enough to come along, Jubes?"

"Just try an' stop me," she laughed, and then groaned as she sat up.

"Suggest you remain behind…"

"No way," Jubilee snorted, as she pushed Logan away and crawled to her feet. "Let's GO already!"

"I will stay," said Meggan. "And protect them till they recover. You and Jubilee go to the others… we'll follow as soon as we are able…"

"Guess that means it's just you an' me, kid," Wolverine said. "C'mon…"

"Right behind you," Jubilee said as he shot off down the hallways. She raced behind him; her own short legs able to just keep pace with him.

As they had done in Dream Nails, Pryde and Wisdom kept hands clasped in a united front. Each complimented the other, fingers interlaced and marching strong into what Pete hoped wouldn't be resembling lambs to a slaughter. Anger and other emotions roiled beneath the surface of the young woman he had come to feel strongly for. The mere fact she had chosen to let him face her enemy at her side seemed a miracle.

"It ends now," Kitty gritted, stopping before the main office. "No more games."

"So, onto business, huh, Pryde?" he asked.

"Yeah, Wisdom. And just so you know, if anything should happen…"

"Yeah, I feel the same way," he answered, his blue eyes fixing into her brown ones. He pulled her to him and they shared a brief, torrid kiss that summed up all their hopes and dreams for each other. When they drew apart, they nodded silently.

Why do I feel like that girl in Labyrinth? Kitty wondered mentally. Unlike that girl in that Jim Henson flick, which poked fun at all the stereotypes of girls in legends, she had her man at her side. Whether that would be an asset or a liability remained to be seen. Through the doors they phased, standing only fifty paces from the long desk set on a dais, with papers piled on top.

"Okay, White Witch, get ready to deal," said Kitty.

"Interesting you should choose C.S. Lewis as a literary reference," Saturnine laughed throatily, as she pushed platinum hair out of her face. It dropped as she fixed both of them in a hungry stare that reminded Kitty more of a witch about to eat two children whole.

"Enough already, let's get on with it," Wisdom mumbled.

"You silly little man, you really don't know what you're up against, do you?"

"Maybe not, but I'm willin' to take a poke at the fact yer thinkin' you're all high n' mighty with this whole 'I eat men for breakfast-modern-day-Bodacia' guff," Wisdom said sternly, not letting go of Kitty's hand. "An' yer probably running that whole memory in yer skull about me an' you. So, let's get the cards out on the table. I did you, an' that's it."

"And I take it Kitty has no objections to your… experience…" said Saturnine, leaning back and resting both feet on the table as she licked her lips.

"No more than he does to OURS," Kitty countered. Pete lifted an eyebrow and chortled.

"Typical MALE fantasy," Saturnine yawned. "Of COURSE he would."

"Maybe, an' maybe not," Wisdom said, releasing Kitty's hand and folding arms across his chest. His face held a sullen neutral expression closer to a growl. What Kitty termed his 'Black Ops' face. Hiding any signs of weakness behind that façade that pissed many off and set nerves on edge. However it had no effect on Saturnine, or so Kitty thought at first.

"Interesting. You are a bit more mature than some. Haven't lost your touch, 'eh, Wisdom?" Saturnine said, swinging her legs down and straightening up in her chair. "Rather good experience Pryde. You seemed to have learned WELL from what I've instilled. Like it or not, you and I are more like one another then…"

"Save it, bitch," Kitty laughed. "Don't EVEN start with that whole line of 'I'm like you so you have no chance of escaping the dark side' bullshit…"

"Still, you can't deny it. It affects you, and ever will, regardless of whether or not I say it," Saturnine laughed. "You ARE like me in every way. And your attempts to control the situation are futile. Either way, you are already mine…"

"You know, you're really sad. You think you're the ONLY ice queen who's twisted me around her finger?" Kitty shook her head.

"Interesting," Saturnine said, looking visibly impressed. "I'm sure you have QUITE a story to tell…"

"Actually it was my best buddy Illyana… and roommate… who spun it best," Kitty said. "A fairy tale about a little kitty… who lost her parents, and was adopted by space pirates led by Lockheed the dragon. About how her arm was turned to crystal… and how she wanted nothing more than to kill the Frost Queen…"

"Do go on," said Saturnine as Kitty strode up, eyes fixed into hers. "This is amusing…"

"And about how she thought all she wanted was revenge. And in the end, her friends almost perished. She faced the Queen, and emerged intact. But not after losing a whole lot of innocence…"

"Fairytales DO come true, Kitty," said Saturnine. "And even if you DO kill me, you still will take my place. Killing me might be what I want you to do, you know…"

"Please," Kitty snorted. "Nice try, but no cigar…"

"Score one more for Pryde," Wisdom chuckled, drawing a tally mark in the air with a hotknife.

"Don't you tire of games? I could simply let you go, since you've amused me… but is THAT what you want? Sooner or later you may handle having stood up to me, but I'm like a bad pence. I keep coming back… and could you have THAT on your conscience?"

"Does it matter?" Kitty asked. "This whole conversation is pointless…"

"Do you want to FIGHT me?" Saturnine asked, throwing off her long silver cloak. "I can arrange THAT!"

Wisdom barely dodged the silver dagger that shot out of Saturnine's hand. It pinned him to the wall by his coat, and he gritted in pain. Kitty's head turned, and in that instant, a fist cracked out and shot against her jaw.

"Sloppy Pryde, you should KNOW better," Saturnine taunted as she blocked with fist at the next blow. Kitty snarled and swept out with her foot, phasing one part of her body to let Saturnine's fist pass through while she punched her stomach. However something pressed to kitty's body and she screamed in loud wrenching pain as electricity crackled all over her. She landed on the floor, painfully solid and tangible.

"Shit," Kitty groaned, pushing herself off the ground.

"Behind you Pryde!" Wisdom shouted. She rolled over, barely bringing her legs up to push off Saturnine pouncing on her with another dagger drawn. The blade grazed Kitty's cheek and ear, blood dripping. Saturnine licked blood off her finger as she watched kitty, and something snapped.

"Oh did I GET you, my dear?" Saturnine cackled, baring her teeth. "Does that REMIND you of someone? The big bad wolf, or should I say the big bad SABRETOOTH tiger?"

Kitty rolled to her feet, hands raised in a defensive crouch. Saturnine momentarily lost sight of Kitty in plain view, and saw stars as Kitty's fist cracked into her nose. Blood dribbled down her face, and she laughed. Blows were traded back and forth as Kitty threw all the training she could remember from Ogun into action. Both women fought in their own styles: Kitty with flips and spins that belied her ninja background while Saturnine moved with lithe grace and a sweeping of legs and arms.

"HAI!" Saturnine barked, shoving both fingers into Kitty's collarbone. She gurgled, dropping to the floor under the pressure point.

"What is THAT?"

"Venusian Aikido," Saturnine laughed as she leaned over Kitty who was paralyzed. "You expected a less passive means of restraint, did you not?"

"Son of a bitch," Kitty growled, trying to focus her brain to phase. Yet a backhand to her face made her head ring as Saturnine drew her hand back again.

"But you weren't expecting THAT were you," Saturnine cackled, insanity sparkling her bright eyes. "You poor child. Can't you see that even with your precious dark training you are STILL lacking in the skills to truly best me? I ruled a dimension long before you were even old enough to know… I have seen and lived things that would make even YOUR skin crawl? You have the stomach to truly match me and you hold back…"

"Maybe I wanna be better than you," Kitty coughed. She struggled to muster enough strength to force against the pressure point. Spitting blood into Saturnine's face, she saw the woman flinch, and then brought up her knee to the other's abdomen. Saturnine grunted long enough for Kitty to flip them over and pin her instead with a nerve pinch to her major cluster. Her head flopped to the side.

"Sorry dearie, but that won't work either…" Saturnine laughed. A silver toed stiletto boot jabbed into the pit of Kitty's stomach, and shoved hard. For a second Kitty sailed through the air, barely able to twist her body and land just short of the table. Kitty shook her head, stunned as she struggled to her feet.

Wisdom raised his hand, knowing that he needed to do something, and yet wanted to respect Kitty's right to face her enemy once and for all. As Saturnine raised her dagger and approached kitty, a spasm of pain slammed into her knees. She crumbled as a hotknife burned into the patella from behind, shattering it and causing her to stagger. She landed on her side, still snarling and clutching her dagger.

"Pete…" Kitty gritted. Seizing the dagger in his hand, he tore it out of his coat and threw it down. Saturnine struggled, and reached for something at her hip. A laser pistol was clutched in her other hand and she fired towards Pete, as she hurled the dagger at Kitty.

"Sorry, but that's older than basic black ops," Pete wisdom said as he dodged the blast. Kitty reached up and caught the dagger in her hand, smiling smugly.

"You are learning," Saturnine laughed. "But that won't help save him, or you…"

"Shut up," Wisdom said, aiming a hotknife at Saturnine.

"Will you deny her the pleasure of the kill? The hero rescuing the fair maiden? Will you deny her spirit and the woman the right to her own vengeance, you proud pathetic fool?" Saturnine laughed.

"This way," Wolverine directed, keeping his voice low. He snagged Jubilee and then pulled her close the next moment. They heard the laughter and snorts of arrogant guards in Shi'ar, understanding the boastings that reached their ears. She felt his heart pounding against her back and his gloved hand over her mouth as he waited for the clear.

Then he released her, and she backed away to give him room. He sniffed the air, and then gestured to her to follow him to the cover of another doorway. Close to the ground he crept, stealthily moving from panel to panel, and then across a long stretch of hallway to where they saw cells gleaming with energy bars over their apertures.

"They're there," Wolverine whispered in her ear as she crouched at his side.

"Uh huh. Any guards?"

"Two."

"What's the plan, boss?" she asked. "Madripoor Princess Bar, Tokyo slums, or Shiva base?"

"More along the lines of the crazy lumberjack…"

"Gotcha," Jubilee nodded. No more words were spoken as she moved away, and raised her hands. Energy crackled and blazed, bringing shouts of surprise.

"Chew on this dweebs!" Jubilee laughed, firing a pulse at a guard who came running quickly towards her. Pulling down her visor she somersaulted and raised her hands to paff the second who had just drawn his blaster.

"Where did you come from…"

"Next door, bub," Logan said, and his claws slashed away the weaponry, and a good chunk of Shi'ar flesh to boot. The other was next to fall right beside his compatriot.

"Not too shabby," she nodded.

"This way," he pointed. "

He grabbed one, then the other as jubilee punched the door mechanism. One after the other they were tossed inside an empty cell. Brushing his hands off he quipped, "good night birdbrains… sorry to forget the blanket to put over yer damn cage…"

"Uh oh, company," Jubilee said as she glanced at two more figures approaching.

"Perfect, just the way I like it…" he nodded. Claws flashed out, and he went running straight forwards with a loud snarl.

"I feel REALLY sorry for those lamoids," Jubilee snickered as she pulled down her visor, and aimed a paff towards the one closest to her.

While Wolverine made short work of the next wave, she rushed past the cages, glancing for anyone familiar. She skidded to a stop right in front of the largest cell when she saw a perplexed Russian blinking at her. "Shto… am I SEEING things?"

"Hey! " Jubilee cried. "Hey you!"

"Unglaublich!" Nighcrawler exclaimed.

"Jubilee, what ARE you doing here?" Colossus demanded as she turned on them.

"What does it LOOK like, Pete? Getting your butts OUTTA here!"

"Liebchen if you are Jubilee, then Wolverine is not far behind, ja?" Nightcrawler asked as she raised her hands to paff the lock.

"Stand back dudes… this isn't gonna be pretty…"

"Jubilee, tis been ages," Rahne Sinclair shook her head, and then ducked behind Colossus as the lock exploded in a blaze of sparks.

"Don't just sit there catching flies lets GO!" Jubilee yelled, snapping her gum.

"Good to see you too," Rahne mumbled as she stumbled against Pete.

"Aren't we forgetting something?" asked Nightcrawler.

"Oops, sorry," Jubilee said as she stopped gain. She raised a finger and then put it right next to Rahne's collar. It popped with a sizzling BIK, and Rahne raised her claws to test them.

"Let me try the others…"

"Nein… I don't think that's a good idea…" Nightcrawler cautioned. "Only a sustained paff would remove it…"

"Stop RIGHT there, prisoners!" exclaimed a voice in Shi'ar.

"Stop THIS sasinache!" Rahne snarled morphing and leaping onto him with her jaws dripping.

"RARRRRR!" came another snarl, but Pete and Kurt realized it was coming from the direction opposite. Running down the hall with one Shi'ar clasped round his waist and two more behind him, Wolverine shot through the line.

"I don't believe it… Wolverine… how did he…"

"Questions LATER?" Jubilee urged, trying to paff Colossus' collar next, and then turning to Nightcrawler. Energy blazed as Colossus transformed into solid organic steel. His fist shot out and punched the nearest guard as Jubilee had raised her finger to paff Nightcrawler's collar off.

"Look out!" he cried, pushing her down. His foot flashed out and kicked the first guard, and then he picked up Jubilee to leap over the next.

"Kurt… wait a moment!" Colossus shouted. Shots pinged off his steel flesh, and he turned to see two guards blazing their guns at him.

"Wait a second I'll get this offa you," Jubilee yelped. Nightcrawler set her down, and then pushed her away. She raised her hands to paff one soldier to the left while he kicked the next. Wolverine suddenly rushed towards Nightcrawler, his claws uplifted. Kurt flinched, and then saw his inhibitor collar clang to the floor.

"C'mon misfit, let's MOVE!" he barked.

"Logan, so good to see you too," Kurt laughed. He ported out of the line of fire of another blaster, as Logan crossed his claws before his face and deflected the blast with adamantium.

"Everyone, attack plan beta!" Nightcrawler shouted. Not questioning him, Colossus and Rahne fell into position. Wolverine heard him loud and clear, and motioned to Jubilee as well. A classic X men maneuver, and a tried and true one.

Nighcrawler teleported in a series of rapid bursts, hitting five guards from all sides. Next, Colossus made a stirrup of his hands as Wolverine charged him. He threw Wolverine into the air, in the celebrated 'Fastball special' to topple on the other squad.

Jubilee raised her hands to paff a series of pulses across the room in the manner of Cyclops. Her beam ricocheted from one to another, till she was left with several bodies lying at her feet. Those that remained were finished by several punches from Colossus and the slashing talons and fangs of Rahne.

"Yes!" she shouted, raising her hand to high-five Colossus. The Russian X man brushed his hands together and grinned for the first time in days.

"Nice work people, sloppy but nice," Wolverine grunted as he tossed the next guard into the last one standing. Nightcrawler flipped over, standing among his friends and their handiwork.

"Excellent. The Professor would be proud, no doubt," Kurt murmured, glancing around.

"Gotta admit, ya make a good leader, elf," said wolverine. "Sure proved yer worth ten times over just there…"

"Far better than before the marauders?" Kurt asked, with a hint of bitterness.

"You said it, not me, bub," said Wolverine, understanding his friend's anger. "But we gotta job to do, so let's keep the small talk for later. Lead on, Nightcrawler. You're in charge."

"Sehr gut… now this way… D'marran won't waste time now that he knows where we are…" Kurt Wagner barked. They fell in after him, following him as he crawled speedily along the ceiling and walls.

As her attention was focused on Pete, Pryde's hand closed around the dagger, and she lunged. Saturnine rolled over, letting off a shot that hit Kitty's hand. It was only stun intensity, and caused her to drop the dagger. Simultaneously the hotknife from Pete sizzled inches from where she rolled way.

He blinked for but a second, and then the next sight he beheld was Saturnine lying on one side, Kitty thrust before her like a shield. Both Kitty's arms were twisted behind the girl's back, while a dagger was poised at her throat. With her good leg she pinned Kitty against her, breathing deeply.

"Here's a challenge for you, my pet," Saturnine laughed. "Either you can go ahead and kill me, hoping Pryde will phase out of the way at the last moment so I don't' slit her throat… or you can back away… and leave now with your freedom intact…"

"Pete… just leave… just go," Kitty said quietly, her brown eyes blinking up into his. "I'm not scared to die…"

"Dammit Pryde, don't make me soddin' do this…" Pete gritted, his hand raised. Each finger blazed with its own hotknife, casting a pale yellow glow on the two women laying ten paces from his black toed shoes.

"So, I don't think you'll be THAT stupid to kill her, and expect her to phase just in time, do you?" Saturnine laughed. "Tick tock, the clock's counting…"

"What do you want me to do, Pryde?" Wisdom asked, hotknives still crackling with energy that Kitty could feel the heat radiating from at such a close proximity. Hotter than the surface of the sun, and the only weapon he had.

"Leave me," she said. "This is between me and her… she won't kill me, Pete. She'll probably try and kill you…"

"I'm not goin' to leave you, you stupid git," Wisdom said, letting his hotknives die away. "So ferget any last minute saves from this poor wanker."

"Wise choice, Wisdom. You show hope for the male species yet," Saturnine laughed as Pete turned away, and started to walk to the door.

"Pete… tell everyone how sorry I am…" Kitty sniffled.

"Sure whatever you say, Pryde… I'm outta here… you got what you wanted, Satyr. Just open the friggin' door an' let me go," Wisdom mumbled, his shoulders hunched. Saturnine's eyes narrowed, as she felt Kitty's body slump. She pressed the dagger firmly into the groove of Kitty's neck.

"You wouldn't be trying to do anything STUPID, would you?" she asked. "Because I could kill Pryde here and now, so NOBODY would have her if I can't…"

"Not yer choice to make," Wisdom gritted. "I'm sorry kitty!"

Saturnine heard his loud yell, and saw him spin around. Hotknives blazed towards them, sizzling bright rain of death. Angrily she sought to bury her knife in Kitty's neck with a scream of angered rage. Yet she didn't count on the painful hotknives burning right through her and Kitty both, and the bright seep of blood and Kitty's elbow in her gut and crotch.

Kitty kicked away a second later, shooting across the floor through Saturnine's grasp. The first instant she had phased them both, so Wisdom's hotknives passed through them, then the second she had phased herself free of Saturnine. A stunned gasp on Saturnine's face came into existence when she saw herself holding empty air.

"You…" she gasped, as Wisdom stood over her, generating a fresh crop of hotknives. He stepped over Kitty's trembling body. Behind her the table caught fire from the impact of Pete's volley. She smelled smoke and hair burning.

"Yes, bitch?" Wisdom asked, raising his hand.

"Die…" she said with a harsh laugh. He had forgotten about the blaster, he thought in one detached moment. Although he threw his hotknives towards her when he saw the blaster pop out from one hand and loose its charge, he misjudged the explosion. Both blaster beam and hotknives vaporized and knocked Pete back in the explosion. He rolled over; slamming into the far wall with great force that wracked his body with pain.

Saturnine rolled over and over, gasping. Kitty felt something slam into her, and it was another concussive blast. While she phased momentarily the blaster still shot her through with its pain. Slowly she dragged herself towards Wisdom's motionless body. He lifted his head, grasping her hand that she extended to him. "Sorry Pete… I'm so sorry," Kitty whispered

"S'okay, ya silly git," he murmured, reaching out his arm and drawing her body alongside his. "At least we'll go together like…"

"Don't' talk stupid," Kitty shushed. He saw Saturnine raise her blaster again, and pulled Kitty to him with one hand to kiss her. She gasped in shock, but as Pete deepened the kiss he stared past her head to raise his other hand and send a large hotknife straight towards Saturnine's upraised hand before she could fire again. Kitty gripped Pete tightly as the hotknife impacted the blaster and caused it to detonate in her hand. Saturnine stared dumbly at the bloody stump that was her wrist, her hand vaporized. She gasped through the pain and tucked her bloody stump into her jacket. Pain overwhelmed her but she slowly crawled to her feet and stumbled out towards an entrance behind her large throne. Pete watched as she slipped away, clutching Kitty close to him.