Shout outs:
WD Cain: Yeah this won't be a pleasant experience, and there might be some lemon but not a lot of it rape actually. You're right about what they got in store for them and Emma since she's not broken yet and won't like what happening to the others. Plus there's more then what you'd think in this story too.
Mark C: Yeah I'm trying for a different route with Emma and of course the X-Men will come for them it's just will they get there in time. I hope you like the Deathstrike/Logan thing that will come later on.
IvyZoe: Yeah this is kind of dark in some areas. Kurt will have a part in this but it may not be as big as you might want it. Vincent has flight, energy manipulation, super strength, speed (limited) invulnerability. Look up my story Enter Mayhem to get to know him better.
Mimato-4eva: No phoenix in this story is planned, and Kitty will not be in the Hellfireclub you're thinking of the Hellions.
Wenl: Yeah you can thank Slickboy for that one and I agree with it.
Lil Jean: I take it you're not an Emma Frost fan.
The Uncanny R-Man: I'll think about it and ask Slickboy444 about her and see what he thinks. Yeah Selene is evil and trust me it will get worse. Trust me the X-Men will not be pleased at all.
Thanks to: X00001, matt3671
HELLFIRE AND BRIMSTONE
CHAPTER THREE: IT BEGINS
Xavier Institute
Professor Charles Xavier quickly hung up the phone as he turned towards his fellow teachers Logan, Ororo, and Hank. They had all been in a usual meeting when Xavier had received an urgent and most unexpected phone call. At first they didn't think too much of it…Until they saw the expression on the Professor's face instantly fall into one of great worry and shock.
"What's wrong Professor? Has something happened?" asked Ororo wearily.
"It's Scott and Jean…They've been attacked," answered Xavier grimly.
"What?!" bellowed Logan, who hated anybody who laid a finger on the kids he had sworn to protect, "By who?! More anti-mutant protesters?" He remembered when those two first got to the university, they had been hassled and even attacked a couple of times but it wasn't anything major.
"No…At least I don't think so. Jean is missing and Scott is in the hospital in a gravely weakened state. The doctors said that he was lucky to be alive…But grew hysterical and tried to pursue Jean only to collapse. I must go quickly and retrieve him."
"I'll come with you…" volunteered Ororo.
"Yes, we must leave as soon as possible. We have no guarantee that somebody working at the hospital will take out their 'anti-mutant' feelings on Scott once they find out. He'll be much safer here."
"I agree Charles. While you're gone, I'll prep the medical quarters for his arrival."
"We shouldn't be long," said the Professor as he and Ororo started to make their way out of his office.
However, this still left one lingering unknown.
"What about Jean? If she's missing, shouldn't we look for her?" said Logan, not liking the implications of this new development one bit.
"Let's take it one crisis at a time old friend," answered Xavier, "I'll do a full scan with Cerebro when I get back. In the mean time, I think it's important if you remained here and kept a close eye on the children. We have no idea if the individuals that attacked Scott and Jean will try to do so with others. Hopefully the authorities there will know something."
Logan still didn't like it. But then again, he knew Xavier was right in saying that they were still in the dark at the moment.
"Be sure to keep in touch Charles," said Hank as he watched Xavier and Ororo enter the elevator, "We'll let you know if anything new develops here."
And with that, the doors closed and Xavier and Ororo descended to the sublevels to quickly prepare the X-jet. They knew that time was of the essence and the quicker they got Scott to the mansion, the safer he would be.
"And I thought things were finally starting to get quiet around here," grumbled Logan.
"No rest for us X-men I guess," replied Hank as he and Logan descended the stairs to get a quick survey of where all the kids were.
Luckily, it was after school hours and most of the students were home. Many of the new recruits had taken advantage of the good weather and started a football game in the front yard while others busied themselves with books and homework.
"It is a peculiar matter Logan. Why attack Scott and Jean? Why only take Jean and leave Scott for dead?" questioned Hank as he decided to get started on setting up the medical bay for Scott's arrival.
"Maybe they were aimin' for Jeannie only and Scottie was just in the way. Or maybe they thought he was already dead and didn't bother," replied Logan, not liking either one of them.
"But still…Such aggressors must be pretty confident to attack two known mutants in broad daylight. Not only that, they also succeeded."
"What's your point McCoy?"
"My point is that whoever they were, they must have been quite knowledgeable. Keep in mind Logan that you trained Scott and Jean to defend themselves since they were twelve. In addition to their powers, the force that took them must have been quite strong."
The implications were not at all lost on Logan as he considered Hank's observations. It was true, whoever attacked Scott and Jean must have done their homework. Scott and Jean were both fighters. Logan knew that better than anybody else. They had spent more hours in the Danger Room than any other students. For a group of aggressors to succeed in taking Jean and nearly killing Scott, they had to have been real pros in their trade.
"I see your point," grumbled Logan, "So who do you think it is?"
"That my friend…Is the million dollar question. But considering the past dealings of the X-men, it could be any number of people with any number of agendas. We can only hope that whoever did this doesn't try so again and take more of our own. But as the old saying goes…The price of peace is eternal vigilance."
One Hour Later at the Hospital
The hospital that Scott was rushed to had been in a fury of activity ever since the nearby attacks. While nobody was seriously hurt other than Scott, the disturbance had altered many local authorities and a few news crews since it involved mutants. Things were already tense with worldwide debate on mutants and Xavier hadn't arrived a moment too soon to retrieve his first student before things could get any worse.
"I must thank you for getting here so quickly Professor Xavier," said the doctor that had been placed in charge of looking after Scott and treating his injuries, "Things have been getting quite intense with the staff, the police, and local news crews."
"I understand…Which is why I feel it may be in his best interest if he returns to my institute where he can receive proper care under our resident doctor," replied Xavier as Ororo wheeled him down the long hallway to the emergency care area.
"And not a moment too soon," added the doctor, "My staff and I know nothing of how to treat mutants properly. Add to that, some of my associates absolutely refuse to go near the boy even though he arrived in critical condition."
The Professor couldn't help but bow his head slightly at the irrational fears described to him. It worried him more that it could have been very life threatening to Scott as well. The thought alone of losing one of his students simply because a hospital refused to treat him because he was a mutant was just too much a thought to bear.
"But he's stable now…" assured the doctor, "Although, he was quite hysterical upon arrival and kept trying to break out. He kept saying words like 'Jean' and 'help.' We ended up having to sedate him so we could work, but he put up quite a fight."
Such actions on Scott's part did little to surprise the Professor and Ororo. They knew full well that the young man always put the well being of his loved ones before himself.
"Is he still out?" inquired Ororo.
"Well…He should be," said the doctor, "But given what we've seen from him so far, I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to wake himself up."
'Neither would I,' thought Xavier to himself.
And sure enough, as they entered Scott was stirring from his drowsy state of mind. The drugs that had been given to him were starting to ware off. While he was still woozy, the attacks still hung fresh in his mind.
"Professor…" Scott struggled upon seeing his surrogate father standing before them, "They took Jean…"
Scott's words were in short gasps. But he still managed to sit up through the pain and exhaustion.
"Who Scott?" asked Xavier, "Who did this? Who took Jean?"
"I don't know," gasped Scott, "They weren't merely human…They had speed. They had strength. They took us by surprise. They were ready for us. I tried to stop them, but…I failed. I failed Jean."
"Do not blame yourself Scott," said Ororo trying to calm Scott down in his weakened state, "Whoever did this knew to overwhelm the both of you. It is not your fault."
Scott still felt like a failure for not being able to protect the woman he loved. But at this point he had lost all strength needed to respond.
"Ororo is right Scott. What matters now is that you're okay. We'll find Jean…I promise you. But for now, you must rest. We will take you back to the mansion to recover and from there we will locate Jean and she'll be back safe and sound."
Not long afterwards, Ororo and the Professor moved Scott out quietly past the clamoring police and news media. He was still too weak to walk, but managed to make it out with the help of a wheelchair. Once they got him onto the velocity on the helicopter pad of the hospital, they were off and on their way back to the mansion.
Outside Xavier Institute
Remy LeBeau was slipping in and out of a mixed state of wooziness and incoherence. Every moment that passed seemed to bring brief blackouts followed by a blurred sense of vision. His hand clung to the deep wound that was left by Deathstrike in his ill-fated fight to save Rogue. However, he had failed in keeping her from being abducted and he had done so without fully repenting for what he had done to her in the past like he so wanted. The Cajun mutant coughed up another spat of blood for what seemed like the fifth time, though he had long lost count. Ever since those mysterious attackers made off with Rogue, Gambit had been struggling and limping his way to the mansion despite the agonizing pain in his stomach. But he was just outside the institute walls now. He could feel death closing in on him, but he had to inform Rogue's family before he drew his last breath.
"Almost…There," he struggled as he leaned against the gate, his legs nearly unable to support him anymore.
It was locked and he was one that they most certainly would not allow access. But he had no time to ring the bell. He had to get their attention one way or another. Then, he touched the large iron gate with his bare skin, gritted his teeth in pain as he charged it, and stumbled back as it blew up in a twisted heap of metal. Gambit knew that alarms would probably go off now, but if it brought somebody to him it didn't matter to him.
Inside the institute Kurt, Kitty, Piotr, and Wanda were lounging in the kitchen. Dinner had just ended and he and Kitty had been stuck with dish duty. Wanda was there reading a book and conversing with Kurt, whom had become one of her best friends since joining the institute while Piotr seemed to hide his motives. However, it had become pretty common knowledge throughout the institute that he had a bit of a crush on Kitty but was too shy to act on them. Not much had happened for the most part until a loud alarm went off and echoed through the halls.
"What the hell is that?" asked Wanda as she and the others quickly rose to their feet in new state of alertness.
"It's the alarm!" exclaimed Kurt, "Somebody's trying to break into the institute!"
Just then, Logan dashed down the stairs with his claws unsheathed ready for battle. "No kiddin' elf! So are ya just gonna stand there and looked surprised or come out and help?!"
The four mutant teens quickly followed as Logan made a mad dash out the door and towards the front end of the estate grounds near the gate. Ever since he got word that somebody had attacked Scott and Jean, he had been on a somewhat more fierce state of alertness in case the same people tried to attack at the institute. However, as he neared the now smoldering gate, he was greeted only with the presence of a lone Gambit leaning desperately against the wall struggling to support himself.
"Gambit?!" Exclaimed Logan with an angry grunt as his instincts prepared to spring into action until he heard a single voice stop him.
"Comrade Logan NO!" yelled Piotr in his Russian accent as he quickly restrained Logan in full metal form.
"Like, what happened to him?" Kitty gasped as he got a look at the wounded Cajun seeing the blood on his shirt and clothing.
As Wolverine calmed down, the five mutants approached Gambit as he nearly fell over from the pain.
"Gambit!" exclaimed Piotr as he quickly rushed over to catch his old friend, "What happened to you?"
"Rogue…" he gasped in a weak breath, "They took Rogue."
Logan let out a frustrated grunt. First Jean, now Rogue. Something was definitely going on here. "Who?!" demanded Wolverine, "What are you talking about?! Is this another one of your tricks Gumbo?!"
"No…Please listen," Gambit struggled as he coughed up more blood, "Somebody…Kidnapped Rogue. I tried…To fight dem off. But Gambit failed."
Logan was still somewhat skeptical, but since it involved Rogue he had to take it seriously and so did the others.
"Who comrade?" asked Piotr trying to keep his friend from slipping into unconsciousness.
They all listened intently for his response. Gambit was felt himself going under. He was about to pass out. But before he did, he managed to say one final word.
"Deathstrike."
He didn't recognize the name, but he suddenly caught a unique scent on him. It was a mixture of metal and…Cherry blossoms. He got a memory, just a flash of one, of Japan he thought he knew that scent but as soon as it was there it was gone. He couldn't explain it, but somehow that scent had sparked some rather fuzzy memories. There were none he could make sense of and he soon found himself frozen in place trying to understand what had just happened.
"Mr. Logan? Are you okay?" asked Kitty, noticing his demeanor.
"Elf…Go get Hank. Tell him we got a new patient for him," ordered Logan without answering Kitty.
"Aye aye herr Logan!" said Kurt as he quickly teleported off to inform Beast.
"Ruskie…Take the Cajun down to the infirmary," Logan told Colossus as he quickly took Gambit in his arms and ran back into the mansion with Kitty following close behind.
Logan, however, remained in place…Not moving one inch from his spot. Wanda quickly took note of this. Even though she hadn't been at the mansion for too long, she had come to know Logan's moods and character. And this was definitely something unlike him.
"Logan…Are you still with us?" inquired Wanda.
Logan knew that there were large gaps in his memory. He knew there were many things that he did not know about himself. So why did that scent spark something within his mind? What did it mean? It was all too much to think about at this moment as he turned back towards the mansion and faced Wanda.
"I'll be fine…" he grunted, but also meant to add 'for now.'
Hellfire ClubShaw was in his chambers looking over the reports that Donald Pierce had given him of the captures. They were successful but, the fatalities in brining in the Canadian and the injury of one of the X-Men and possible death of who he just learned through his records had once worked for Magneto did not please him in the slightest. Although he had been seen back in New Orleans and there seemed to have been an incident with the Thieves and Assassins Guilds, he didn't have any relation to the X-Men.
Although his reports said that the X-Man would live, he was going to send someone to deal with him anyway. But he knew by now that Xavier would be called in and most likely they would move him. He would still send someone to take out the boy before or as they left the hospital if possible since there was a mercenary in the area he could call without being traced. Deathstrike also said that the Cajun and the Southerner were close. He could use that, in fact, it was about time he looked in on the two guests.
Jean and Rogue had reluctantly changed into the new clothing and both felt exposed in them. Rogue had always covered herself mainly as protection and had once dreamed of wearing less clothing, but this wasn't what she had in mind. She sat on one of the beds trying not to feel so self-conscious about how she was dressed.
She looked over and saw that Jean was trying to keep it together, but she was obviously worried about Scott. And truth be told, she was worried about Gambit too. Even though she wasn't sure on where they stood…But still he had tried to defend her…And might have died trying too. She pushed those thoughts aside and looked over at the blond named Emma.
She looked like a walking human heart attack and she had to wonder if all of those looks were real. "So what the hell is your story? Judging by that collar you're in the same boat as us."
Emma looked at the Goth, although if it wasn't for the make-up you wouldn't know it. Emma sighed and sat down. "I joined this club not knowing what I was getting into. At first I thought I found a place where I finally belonged and where I would be respected and admired." She laughed at herself. "God I should have known better…I used my talents to look into the minds of politicians and leaders of industry to get the inside scoop for Shaw and the others. Shaw gave me a lot of attention and I thought…I thought he even loved me. He once said so and we…" She shook her head thinking of how silly she had been falling for the man, or maybe it was the power he weld that attracted her to him. "Anyway, when I looked into his mind for just one instant, I saw him and the others for who they really were and I learned that they were using me. I felt angry and betrayed, so I ran."
"I didn't get far. They soon found me and I was…Punished." She remembered how they placed the collar on her and had taken her to the same damn room that boy had been taken too. Selene had stripped her naked and had used lashes and other tools on her. Of course she didn't have any scars, Shaw ordered that much, but still…Those two days were pure hell and a few of the male Inner Circle had taken it upon them to help out a little, a few times even sexually assaulting her. But she was too out of it from the pain to notice much of it. She didn't really care, for she had experience with such horrible things from before she came here, bust at least she didn't remember all too much of that.
It had taken a month for her to fully heal and she knew now that if she escaped again, she would either have to make sure they never found her…Or kill herself rather then be captured because she knew Shaw would let Selene fully loose on her the next time and if she was lucky…She would die in a few days unless she lived for much longer or worse, survived. Those that were misfortunate enough to survive Selene's full wrath always whished for death afterwards.
"We have to get out of here. The others will find us." Jean said hopefully.
"If you think Cerebro will find you here, think again." Emma told her and saw the look of shock on both of their faces. "Yes, we know about Cerebro. When the mansion was blown-up, the Inner Circle had people in high places and they found the Cerebro room and managed to get enough of it to figure out what it did. And this place and all other houses of the Hellfire Club are shielded from telepaths like those mercenaries that attack you."
"They won't win. They can't get away with this." Rogue said sternly and Emma laughed at that.
"You have no idea just what the Hellfire Club really is don't you? After my punishment they showed me the real face of this place. Did you know they funded Trask and his Sentinel program?" She enjoyed the looks on their faces from that. "No? Well where do you think he got the capital for all of that? You think SHIELD wouldn't notice how resources and materials just kept disappearing? No, they funded it and they also were going to double cross Trask."
"That Sentinel that you and your friends fought and destroyed had a hidden program in it. After it destroyed you it was supposed to go after Trask. You see they knew that battle would be televised. In fact, they were counting on it. They were going to sell the Sentinels to any world power that wanted them. I mean think of what a warlord could do with just one of those things! But when you beat it, that ruined that plan. They still have the blue prints on hand though, just in case."
"We never knew…" Jean said quietly the implications of that sinking in.
"Of course not! These are the people that killed JFK!"
"What!?" Both girls shouted out.
"His father was a member. Do you really think he got elected when his father went to the mob for money and help? Please! And I don't know all the details, only that he went against club policy and they took him out. His brother was going to expose the Hellfire Club, so he was taken out as well. And I don't even want to get into how an old member used the Club to take out that poor man, Mr. King."
"Wait ya don't mean…" Rogue asked her.
"Of course I mean him. But that was an individual act. The man who ordered it was one of those white supremist and he was 'dealt' with in much the same manner as Dr. King. Personal agendas that could ruin the club or expose it are not tolerated. The Hellfire Club is about one thing, power. Whether that power is in the form of money, information, or abilities like those of mutants, they find it, they take it, and they use it to get more."
"And you should know…That whoever enters this place don't leave…At least not without leaving feet first."
Both Jean and Rogue suddenly felt like they were in so much trouble. The fact that this group had done all of that and no one was suspicious at all spoke untold volumes to them. It was then that they saw a man in black 18th century clothing with dark hair and sideburns to match the image of his clothing. He was tall, well built, and had handsome features.
"Ah so you're up, and I take it Selene has taken the boy to 'play' with." He strode towards the two girls as they stood up to face him. He walked with a grace and presence to him, like a king. He leaned towards them looking over their bodies with pleasure. He took Jean's chin with one hand. "My aren't you a pretty one?" She jerked her head away from him and wanted to hit him, but remembered the collar and the pain that it caused.
"I am Sebastian Shaw, the Black King. You two and the boy will serve us…And trust me, there is no choice." He looked the girls over. "I'll have Tessa deal with you later." He said to Rogue then looked to Jean with a smirk. "You on the other hand are quite a prize. Your photos don't do you justice."
"The others will find us." Jean said to him gathering her strength.
He just smirked. "I don't see how. I mean the mercenaries don't know the man they work for is part of the Hellfire Club and there were no witnesses that would talk." She saw Jean pale and her knees start to weaken. "Oh didn't you know? Apparently that boy you were with died on route to the hospital." Then turned to Rogue. "And the one you were with had bled to death before the ambulance could get to him. I hope you girls weren't close to those boys, even though it's not likly you would have seen them or anyone else you knew ever again."
He turned to leave. "Well I'll leave you both for now. I just wanted to stop in and give you the news." He left the girls and was aware of Emma glaring at him but took no noticed. After he left Jean and Rogue both slumped to the ground. Rogue pulled her knees up to her chest and Jean just broke down and cried her heart out. Her worse nightmare was happening. The love of her life…Her soul mate was dead.
Emma looked at them with sympathy. Her collar wasn't on so she could feel their pain, but closed her mind off. She wasn't used to with dealing with emotions. In her house emotion was a weakness to be overcome, but her heart still went out to the girls, and she also knew that things would get even worse from this moment on.
Vincent wasn't sure where he was being dragged, but he knew he wasn't going to like it. That and his body still hurt like hell from that damn shock collar around his neck. After dragging him across the cold cement floor, they finally got to a room that looked like something out of one of his damn nightmares. The room was completely metal all over with a few lights overhead. There was a very comfortable looking chair and tray against one of the walls facing the center of the room.
They brought him to the center of the room where he heard a chain overhead and soon was soon bound by a strange feeling. He felt handcuffs being placed on him and he hung there in his woozy state, until he heard them doing something and the chain rose up leaving him practically hanging off the ground. He knew what this was so he would have to fight for every breath, not to mention the cuffs were cutting a bit into his skin. He really wished he had his invulnerability now…He hadn't felt this exposed and helpless since he was a child.
He noticed a small drain under him and he noticed a few red spots all over the place. At first he thought it was rust, but from the smell he figured it was blood. He looked around and notices some things, like some nasty knifes, instruments, and other things he knew he wasn't going to like. The guards had left him alone and as he just hanged there he felt like he wanted to cry…Not from his situation, that he could handle, but it was remembering seeing Father Michaels…Seeing his throat cut…Seeing him die. The man took him in as a child, raised him, and had always been there for him.
He wanted to cry and morn for him, but he held that off for now. He would do that later after he got out of this place. In the meantime he would focus on his anger. He would use that to help him get through this. The door opened and he saw Selene, the sinister looking woman from earlier, stroll in and sit down in the chair.
"Now then…I'm going to ask you some questions and you're going to answer them." She said to him grinning.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 4: BREAKING IN THE NEW PEOPLE