A Blast of Hellfire
"I still say we shouldn't have left Warpath behind," Evan growled as the Hellions' hover jet landed near a huge volcano in Italy.
"The X-Men won't kill him, you said so yourself," Yvonne told him.
"Yeah, but they still could get information," Monet pointed out.
"No way! Frost's mental blocks can't be broken!" Bevatron snorted.
"One word moron," Evan glared at him. "Rogue!"
"Oh yeah," Bevatron's face fell. "I forgot about her."
"Spyke is right," Emma said. "And with the Misfit's infernal Mass Transportation Device or whatever the hell it's called, it won't be long until they get here. Come on." They got out and made their way to the top of the volcano.
"How did they find her in the first place?" Beef asked. "Selene anyway?"
"The same way we found her, through telepathy," Frost explained. "Selene was so sure that she could beat whoever found her she was careless and didn't even bother creating any type of shields to hide her presence. She always was too arrogant for her own good."
"She's not hurt is she?" Evan pointed to Amara who was staring vacantly into space as they walked.
"She's fine," Emma said. "I just used my powers to make her more…Compliant."
"I think Spyke still cares about his little X-Friends," Monet mocked.
"What I care about is how she'll complete the mission!" Evan snapped. "Besides, she may be an X-Man, but she's still a mutant like us."
"Spyke does have a valid point," Emma told her team. "Mutants should try not to kill each other even if they are enemies. There are enough humans willing to kill us."
"It's about time you got here," Pierce was waiting for her with a small group of Hellfire soldiers at the top of the volcano. "What took you so long?"
"You try fighting off the Black Queen, the X-Men and the Misfits at the same time!" Evan snapped.
"Fighting isn't exactly Pierce's strong suit," Emma told Evan. "So don't expect him to understand."
"I've told you more than once about mocking me woman!" Pierce growled. "My cybernetics can go up against your powers any day of the week! Even more since I implanted a device to shield me against telepathy!"
"Oh I'm so scared," Emma mocked.
"You will be," Pierce growled.
"Yes well as much as I'd love to continue this dialogue of witty banter that has been done a thousand times before," Emma sighed impatiently. "We have a job to do and we should get started before the X-Men arrive. Or the Black Queen if she dares to show her face after the trouncing Celandine, Monetand I gave her."
"You beat Selene?" Pierce's eyes widened.
"Isn't that what she said, Fool?" Beef grunted.
"Not to mention getting our little helper here from under the noses of our enemies. But that's something I'll tell you about later. Magma…" Emma transmitted her orders to Amara telepathically. "You know what I want. Fetch."
Amara instantly transformed into her fire form and made a free fall dive into the volcano. She disappeared below the molten lava. "This better work Frost," Pierce growled.
"It will," Emma said. "Stop whining." They waited for a few minutes.
"I wish she'd hurry up," Pierce folded his arms.
"She's looking in a volcano several miles wide and several thousand miles deep!" Evan snapped. "Cut her a little slack will ya?"
"She's found it," Emma announced. "See Pierce? Nothing to worry about. Now all you have to do is bring it back to the Hellfire Club. You can handle that can't you?" Pierce shot her a dark look.
Amara rose to the surface riding a column of lava. She carried a large red crystal in her hands. "Good girl," Emma said. "Now…"
An energy bomb being tossed her way cut her off. "Scatter!" She shouted. The Hellions dived to avoid being blown up only to see the X-Men and Misfits before them. This time they had brought Xavier and Warpath who was being held by Fred.
"You better let my best bud go Icy," Tabitha growled. "Unless you wanna take a warm bath in lava!"
"We got Warpath here," Fred called out. "So how about a little trade?"
"We really don't need Amara anymore do we?" Evan asked Emma.
"For now, no…" Emma said.
"Forget it!" Warpath shouted. "Just shut up and shoot 'em down!"
"Fine!" Pierce whipped out his weapon and shot at him. Fortunately Fred was able to let go in time and the bullet hit him instead. Of course, since he was invulnerable it really didn't do much.
"You nearly hit Warpath you idiot!" Evan growled.
"Uh oh…" Pierce blinked.
"Yeah, uh oh…" Rogue growled as she and the others attacked. She grabbed hold of Pierce's arm. Both struggled. Even though Pierce had enhanced strength it was useless against Rogue. "What the…?" Rogue was surprised when his robotic arm broke off.
"I'm out of here!" Pierce ran away clutching his damaged arm.
"And once again Pierce I get to take care of something which you can't handle," Frost remarked to herself. "Magma…"
Amara handed the cooled crystal to Emma, then created a huge flow of lava to attack the X-Men and Misfits. "Well isn't this special?" Pietro snapped as he outran the lava.
"Storm! Iceman! Use your powers to try and stop the lava!" Xavier shouted. "I'll try to break Magma's mind free!"
"Oh you can try…" Emma growled. "But it won't be that easy."
"I won't allow you to go after my students anymore!" Xavier sent a telepathic assault. Emma blocked it. Soon the mutants were in a fierce fight. Warpath had made his way back to the Hellions and was fighting fiercely. But not as fiercely as Xavier and Emma. Give it up Frost, you cannot win against my mind…
Maybe she can't…Yvonne sent out an attack of her own. But I can.
You're formidable young lady… Xavier switched his focus to her and entered a psychic battle with Celandine. But your skills do not match mine!
I don't need your skills to defeat you old man! I have an extra trick or two up my sleeves that more than makes up for my inexperience! Yvonne laughed.
Suddenly Xavier felt very sick and woozy. "What…What have you…?"
Jean sensed Xavier was in pain. "Professor!" She rushed to his side.
"My dear Celandine is a toxic telepath, as you have already figured out," Emma grinned. "However there is a way for a skilled telepath to stop the damage before it's too late. I think I'll let you figure it out on your own…if you can!"
Meanwhile Amara was using her powers to make the volcano tremble violently. "Uh guys," Kitty gulped. "I think we have bigger problems! The volcano is totally gonna blow!"
"Not if I can help it!" Jean snapped. "Psylocke!"
"Yeah I'll get her," Betsy created a psychic knife and charged at Yvonne. "Keep your shields up until I take her out! Whatever she did to the Professor it has something to do with her telepathy!"
"You can't…AAGGGHH!" Yvonne wasn't fast enough to dodge the knife. "That hurts!" She fell to her knees.
"NOW!" Betsy shouted.
"You can't stop me!" Emma snarled at Jean. Suddenly she was thrown backwards by a hex bolt. "AGGGH!"
"Let her go…" Wanda ordered. The Hellions were being beaten back by the ferocity and sheer numbers of the Misfits and X-Men.
"Fine…" Emma hissed as she released Amara. She fell to the ground back to her normal form. "Hellions! Retreat!"
"But what about…?" Evan asked as he shot spikes out to cover for her.
"Leave her!" Frost ordered. "We have what we came for!"
The Hellions and the Hellfire Club soldiers retreated with the crystal. "They're getting away!" Tabitha shouted.
"Let 'em go," Logan as more smoke spewed out of the volcano. "We've got bigger problems! A whole volcano full of 'em!"
"Amara and the Professor are out cold!" Rogue said. "Maybe I could use Amara's powers to stop the volcano?"
"There's no time!" Scott said as he grabbed Xavier and picked him up. "Lava's already coming out!"
"If I don't try that village down there is gonna be fried!" Rogue took a glove off and tapped Amara, draining some of her power. She transformed into a fiery version of herself and soon dived into the volcano.
"ROGUE!" Remy screamed as a blast of lava shot out from the volcano.
The volcano rumbled violently and a shower of lava and smoke spewed out. "Take cover!" Logan roared.
Rogue flew out of the volcano and powered down. "I…I couldn't stop all of it…" Rogue panted. "Not enough power…"
"If it's power you want…" Scott readied his visor. "Avalanche…"
"Got it!" Lance focused his powers to create a large wall of rock. Scott used his force beams to create a hole for the lava to seep into. Bobby used his ice powers and Ororo made it rain hard, cooling off the lava as much as they could. Althea used her powers to try and make the rainwater extend further. Wanda used her hex bolts and Fred used his strength to throw boulders.
"That's not bad but it's not good enough!" Logan shouted as the volcano spewed more smoke. "We gotta go now before the smoke fries our lungs!"
The X-Men and Misfits teleported off, doing what they could, hoping it had been enough.
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That evening at the Hellfire Club…
"I present the M'krran Crystal," Emma showed the crystal in it's container to Sebastian Shaw, Harry Leland and several other hooded members of the Inner Circle. The Hellions stood to the side wearing fine clothes. Evan was in his human guise.
"Excellent Emma," Shaw was pleased. "You and your Hellions have done well. Such loyalty will be rewarded."
"Speaking of loyalty…Where the hell is that devil woman Selene?" Leland asked.
"Gone into some hole like the snake she is," Emma said.
"We'll deal with her later," Shaw snorted. "Sorceress or not, she has much to answer for. But now we have new business." He took the crystal and placed it on the table. "Evan Daniels, come forward."
Evan walked towards him and knelt before Shaw. "For your loyalty and dedication to the Inner Circle," Shaw proclaimed. "I now bestow upon you the title of White Warrior Prince, Heir to the White Throne." Two attendants entered with a white royal cape and draped it on Evan's shoulders as he rose.
"WHAT?" Pierce shouted, throwing back his hood. "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"
"Quiet Pierce," Leland snapped.
"I alone deserve the White Throne!" Pierce snapped.
"What you deserve Pierce, I choose not to say aloud," Leland growled. "Being that we are in the presence of ladies."
"Oh believe me," Emma said. "I could say much worse."
"You can't seriously say that that sewer rat is worthy of such a high position in the Inner Circle?" Pierce shouted.
"You would know a lot about being a rat. I'm not the one who ran away when we were under attack," Evan snapped. "Or tried to kill one of our own!"
"Remind me to beat him to a pulp for that," Warpath grumbled.
"I'm more than equipped to deal with vermin like you!" Pierce shouted.
"ENOUGH!" Shaw shouted. "Pierce! The decision is final! Daniels shall be the one groomed for the throne."
"And when the time is right he will assume the responsibilities of the White King," Emma said.
"It's because he's a lousy mutant isn't he?" Pierce snarled.
"That and he's actually competent at what he does," Leland folded his arms.
"We've already expelled Selene from her position," Shaw glared at Pierce. "And there are plenty of candidates that could take over yours if need be."
"Fine," Pierce sulked away. "But you'll regret your decision!"
"There's always one in every group that has to spoil every occasion isn't there?" Leland sighed as Pierce left. "We should watch him."
"We have more pressing matters than Pierce's ego," Shaw waved his hand. "The Inner Circle is dismissed." All the members left the room. All but two.
"This is a very interesting situation…" One hooded figure whispered in the shadows. He removed his hood to reveal the face of Mesmero.
"Agreed," The second whispered back. Mastermind revealed his face. He spoke telepathically. Such conflict will work to our advantage.
I will work on Pierce, Mesmero nodded. His vanity will be most useful.
And I will take the boy, Mastermind agreed. His knowledge of the X-Men and his new position will help us as well.
It's ironic isn't it? The Hellfire Club is convinced that you are spying on Magneto for them, while Magneto believes you are keeping tabs on the Hellfire Club for him, Mesmero grinned.
And you Mesmero vouched for me to the Hellfire Club while Blackjack…Or Legion or whoever the hell he is at the moment gave the idea to Magneto…None of them realize that a third party is soon going to control them all. Mastermind grinned.
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"So what's the damage?" Tabitha asked. The X-Men and Misfits were in the Institute War room.
"Very little surprisingly," Scott told them. "Thanks to us most of the lava was stopped before it reached the town. A few minor fires were started but no homes were destroyed."
"We're lucky we got out of there before the Italian authorities arrived," Logan grunted.
"Yes, we were extremely fortunate today," Xavier wheeled in with Amara and Jean following.
"Professor! You're okay!" Kitty chirped.
"I'm better now," Xavier told the group. "Although I still have a slight headache."
"What did she do to you?" Jean asked. "What's a toxic telepath?"
"Apparently Celandine's telepathy has some serious side effects," Xavier sighed. "They can cause a violent chemical reaction in the brain without proper safeguards. It took all my mental abilities to do so but I was able to counteract the effects."
"In other words she can literally kill a person just by thinking about it?" Kurt asked.
"Technically many telepaths are capable of that, but in Celandine's case the effects are deadly whether she wishes them to be or not," Xavier told him. "Unless of course precautions are made with certain type of sheilding."
"Well isn't that special?" Pietro mocked. "Great, as if those guys didn't give us enough trouble!"
"Are you okay Amara?" Roberto asked.
"I…I think so…" Amara said. "As well as I can expect running into one of my childhood demons."
"What do you mean?" Jean asked her.
"Selene was a powerful sorceress who helped found Nova Roma during the time of the Roman Empire," Amara told them. "According to legend she kept herself young by stealing away the life force of living beings, mostly people. She overthrew the government and ruled Nova Roma for centuries with an iron fist."
"You serious?" Scott asked.
Amara nodded. "Eventually my grandmother overthrew her and expelled her from our homeland with a powerful spell. But her image still haunts and frightens my people to this day. Many people believe she was a demon."
"More likely another mutant from ancient times," Xavier frowned.
"So Apocalypse wasn't the only one from back then huh?" Tabitha asked. "Geeze it makes you wonder how many of us there were in those days. So what happened to you?"
"I don't remember anything. One minute the Hellions were fighting Selene and the next thing I knew I'm here. What happened?" Amara asked.
"You went pearl diving in a volcano," Pietro told her.
"What?" Amara blinked.
"The Hellions wanted to use your mutant powers to recover some kind of crystal hidden in a volcano in Italy," Xavier explained. "Unfortunately they succeeded."
"Professor what could they possibly want with that crystal?" Kurt asked.
"Maybe the Ice Queen wanted to make some new earrings?" Pietro joked.
"Something tells me it's a bit more than that," Wanda said. "Maybe they were gonna sell it or something?"
"With all the finances and resources the Hellfire Club has I doubt they're hurting for cash," Logan grunted. "But whatever they want it for…I got a feeling it's gonna cause us a lot of trouble."
"I fear you're right Logan," Xavier sighed. "Whatever the reason, I only hope we can handle it."