Unlikely Allies Come in All Forms

"YOU!" Scott snarled at Selene. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to help," Selene held up her hands.

"Yeah right!" Logan snorted. "I'm not gonna even ask how you got past our security systems but I'd be happy to show you how to leave through 'em!"

"Look this might come as a surprise but even evil immortal sorceresses like to draw the line at the Earth going up in a ball of flames!" She snapped. "Particularly when said evil immortal sorcerers have just finished redecorating all fifty seven of her secret lairs and palaces!"

"Fifty seven?" Angelica blinked.

"I like to travel and I'm not that big on hotels, okay? Do you want to find your friends or not?" Selene asked.

"She's right," Xavier said. "Selene is our only hope of finding the others."

"Maybe," Logan growled. "But I don't have to like it."

"The feeling is mutual," Selene glared at him. "Fortunately for you the Hellfire Club and their stupid plan to harness the Phoenix Force is much higher on my priority list."

"Not to mention a little payback for them kicking you out?" Althea folded her arms.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Selene looked at her.

"Where's Jean?" Scott demanded.

"At the Hellfire Club's inner sanctum in New York City," Selene told him.

"And where is that?" Logan asked. "The Hellfire Club don't usually advertise."

"Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side, near Central Park," Selene told him. "I believe you have all heard of Black Friar's Club?"

"No," Todd shook his head.

"No," Ray said.

"Nope," Fred thought.

"Never heard of 'em," Lance said.

"Total blank here," Bobby admitted.

"Let me rephrase that," Selene sighed. "Those of you who have more than one brain cell have heard of the Black Friar's Club?"

"Sorry, but I've never heard of them either," Rogue admitted. None of the kids did.

"I've heard of the Friar's Club but not the Black Friar's Club," Logan admitted.

"Oh for crying out loud!" Selene groaned. "I know it's not exactly your circle but one of you must have heard of them! The adults? Worthington? Storm? Xavier? Come on! I know the club has had a little trouble with membership lately but this is ridiculous!"

"Wait Upper East Side? The large mansion with all the roses in front?" Xavier asked. "And the gargoyles on the west wing?"

"Yes!" Selene told him. "That's the one!"

"That's what the BFC on the gates stand for?" Xavier asked. "I always thought it was some kind of retired bankers club."

"I heard it was some kind of retirement home," Warren shrugged. "I mean I've gone past it but I've hardly ever seen anyone under 80 around the grounds."

"Well, it's a very exclusive club…On the outside," Selene sighed. "Perhaps a little too exclusive. It's a cover for the Hellfire Club's activities. I still can't believe none of you have ever heard of it. It was the most sought after club to be in since the 1940's."

"Sounds like its membership hasn't changed since the 1940's," Rogue folded her arms.

"I always told Shaw we needed better publicity," Selene sighed. "Anyway it's one of the oldest buildings in the city and that's where they are!"

"Then that's where we're going!" Shipwreck said. "Where is it again?"

"I am so glad I got thrown out of that club…" Selene put her head in her hands. "If I wasn't immortal I'd die from embarrassment."

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"Cobra Commander!" A Cobra Lackey ran into the Cobra throne room. "News! The Hellfire Club is planning some kind of secret ceremony tonight! It has to do with the M'Krann Crystal and a rumored power."

"What sort of power?" Destro was there as well standing by the throne where Cobra Commander sat.

"It is called the Phoenix Force and it is rumored to be extremely powerful sir."

"Really?" Cobra Commander thought. "I think we shall pay the Hellfire Club a visit."

"Of course my dear Cobra Commander," Destro grinned. "And while we are there we shall obtain this Phoenix Force for the glory of Cobra!"

"Exactly noble Destro," Cobra Commander nodded. "That power rightfully belongs to us."

"It does?" The clueless lackey asked.

"Well technically no, but that's never stopped us before!" Cobra Commander laughed.

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"Isn't this where we came in?" Roberto sighed as he rattled his chains.

"I missed this part," Xi told him. "Actually I could have missed it again."

"Remy I'm sorry," Jean told Remy as they sat in their cell. "No wonder you never wanted to talk about your past with Sinister."

"Yeah," Roberto sighed. "Not that my old man is such a prize either, but geeze…"

"It's our present that concerns Remy more right now," Remy grumbled.

"Just as well since most of you won't have a future," Pierce swaggered up to the bars with Sage behind him.

"What do you want Pierce?" Roberto snapped.

"It's time for Miss Grey's attitude to be adjusted," Pierce grinned. "Now if…AAGGGHHH!" Suddenly his arm seemed to short circuit and he had a slight seizure. He fell to the ground unconscious.

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that," Sage grinned as she deftly took the keys from Pierce's pocket and unlocked the cell door. "We don't have much time. We need to get you out of here now!"

"Wait, Sage? Gambit thought you were brainwashed?" Remy asked.

"Not exactly," Sage said. "I managed to seal off the smallest part of my mind from them. Just enough to convince the Hellfire Club I was under their control."

"So all this time you've been like a double agent?" Roberto asked as Sage removed their control collars.

"Yes, although not in the way I originally planned," Sage nodded. "Eventually I realized I had to allow myself to be…coerced to some degree in order to gain Shaw's trust. It's an old telepathic trick. To brainwash oneself and forget about your mission until a certain time or a certain phrase is said. Or if something more important arises."

"So when you realized they planned to brainwash me…" Jean frowned.

"My subconscious released me from my programming. This way…" Sage told them. Soon they were fleeing the cell and navigating the winding corridors.

"You learned that trick from Xavier, am I correct?" Xi asked.

"Part of it," Sage told him. "The rest was natural talent if I do say so myself."

"Halt!" Three armed guards charged at them.

Before anyone could do anything Warpath showed up. "Hold it guys!" He held up his hand. "Leave them to me!"

"You sure you can handle them?" One guard asked.

"Yeah I think I got the situation under control," Warpath nodded. Then he punched out the one guard. Before the other two could react he took them out too. "Like I thought, no problem!"

"Warpath?" Jean asked. "You helped us. Why?"

"I can't do this anymore," Warpath told them. "Taking down FOH scum is one thing, but experimenting and using other mutants…This isn't what my brother would have wanted."

"How did you…?" Roberto asked.

"Spyke told the other Hellions what was going down," Warpath explained. "Let's just say I handed in my resignation. Come on!" They ran down the corridor, taking out guards that attacked them.

It wasn't long before they came into contact with the Hellions. "I told you he'd be helping them escape!" Bevatron snapped. He had a black eye.

Emma and Pierce were behind them. Pierce was carrying a huge weapon. "Don't do this Warpath."Emma said. "You don't want to be our enemy."

"This isn't what I signed up for Frost," Warpath growled.

"I knew you were never fully under our control!" Pierce pointed at Sage.

"So let's take 'em down!" Beef roared.

"You heard Shaw's orders!" Evan told them. "You can't hurt Jean!"

"But I can hurt you!" Jean gave a violent telekinetic shove at Evan, pushing him and the Hellions into the wall.

"Forget them! Watch out for the…" Warpath warned but it was too late. Pierce activated the weapon, which emitted a loud sound that caused the mutants to scream, hold onto their heads and knock them unconscious.

"That was rather anti-climatic," Emma snorted.

"Looks like we've got two more sacrifices for the ceremony," Pierce grinned. "So be it."