Uncanny R-Man: Yeah they did have it coming and there's more to come of course.
Chica De Los Ojos Café: Glad you liked it so much and was this fast enough?
Episodic: Yeah so perfectly happy endings for this fic, and if you think this is almost over…it's only about 1/3 of the way done!
GothikStrawberry: Yeah I like Emma too, one of the reasons I wanted to do this story. Don't worry the next chapter won't be as disturbing…I think.
TheLegendaryManHimself: Yeah she did, and Deathstrike/Logan round 2 is up next. Yeah Vince will get come payback against the Reavers too.
IvyZoe: Well if you haven't guessed by now Selene is just a sick twisted freak. I think Emma smashing her face in pretty much got her back for them and then some. We're thinking of hooking Logan/Ororo up later, Vince, Rogue and Jean are up next. If you want to know exactly what Vince can do read my story Enter Mayhem.
Prophet-Song: Yeah he did, but in the heat of the moment Logan just wanted to kill him, plus the chapter was getting kind of long.
Mark C: Yeah they got what was coming and so will Shaw and Kurt will go after his sister.
Aaron: I didn't remember that hanging from the ceiling from the comic I just thought it was a good idea, weird. Yeah Emma had a lot of issues with Selene to deal with, and Leland got what was coming to him anyway. As for Vince you'll have to see what he went through.
Thanks to: celtcath74, Lil Jean, X00001
CHAPTER 19: SHOWDOWN PART 2
-Upstairs, Scott-
After Logan had broken him free from the inhibitor collars, Scott had only thing on his mind now…Breaking Jean free of Shaw's control. She was still under his manipulation and her mind was clouded by a veil of lies. She thought that Shaw was actually Scott and all her senses were telling her so. But there remained hope in Scott's mind that he could use the link he shared with her to get through once again and banish the insidious dark version of himself that seemed to be the source of all of Jean's darkness. However, he knew that Shaw would definitely not give her up with out a fight. He was confident and for good reason. Scott had been unable to beat his darker self last time, but this time…He was ready. And this time, he was either going to get the woman he loved back…Or die trying.
"SHAW!" he yelled as he ran through the halls and back towards the audience chamber where he knew Jean and Shaw still were.
Several guards tried to subdue him, but Scott unleashed several major optic blasts that sent the men flying and his anger fuelled his will to fight as he ploughed through any obstacle that stood in his way. These people had nearly killed him, tortured his friends, and taken the woman he loved for their own sick goals. He had nearly died trying to save her before and he was fully willing to do it again.
Finally, he blew open the polished wooden doors to the audience chamber and fought off one last group of guards until there was nobody left except Shaw and Jean.
"Sebastian Shaw…" he said with anger brimming in his tone, "You're going pay for everything you've done and all the pain you've caused me and my friends!"
"My, my, my…" said Shaw as he stepped forward, not at all threatened by Scott's anger, "Aren't you a little overconfident. Need I remind you that I have every last advantage over you and your pitiful friends?"
"I don't care what you have you bastard!" shot Scott in response, "You've hurt me, you've hurt the woman I love…You are going to pay!"
"Oh I beg to differ my boy…" grinned Shaw as he ran his hand down Jean's face in a possessive gesture.
The mere sight of this only made Scott madder, but as he looked at Jean…His anger gave way to desperation as he remembered the one thing Shaw had that no amount of anger could match. He had Jean…And that was all the advantage he needed.
"I must admit, you have proven to be quite a nuisance," said Shaw as he stepped forward, preparing to finish this meddlesome boy with his bare hands, "You just don't know when do die. That blast back in the park should have killed you, but you just had to keep breathing. You are nothing but an insignificant waste of human flesh…An insect that I can crush easily without a second thought. The longer you are alive the angrier I get…And I am a man who does not like to be angered. If you won't die like you are supposed to…Then I guess I'll just have to end your meaningless life myself."
Shaw eagerly cracked his knuckles, ready to feel this young man's bones crumble under the force of his grip. But while he was preparing to fight, Jean's glance remained fixated on the young man that had caused the strange surge within her mind earlier. The experience had left her shaken and had made some memories which she thought were concrete somewhat fuzzy and unclear. While she didn't remember exactly what he did…All that she could remember were the words "I know you better than anybody ever has, or ever will."
That phrase echoed in her mind like a festering wound and it only got worse the more she looked at him. He had done something to her…She knew it. But she didn't quite know what. Something within her longed to either know what it was or make it go away. She couldn't stand this…Uncertainty caused by it, for it contradicted everything she thought was true. She had to do this herself…There was no other way around it.
"Wait…" she said, stopping Shaw from his advance, "Let me kill him…"
Shaw looked back at the young redhead and smiled. Looking back at Scott, he knew it would probably be easier anyways since he knew he couldn't fight someone he loved so dearly. The cold, menacing glare in Jean's eyes didn't indicate to him otherwise and besides…He wanted this young nuisance dead as soon as possible.
"Very well my dear…" smiled Shaw, "If you so desire, then end this insignificant speck's life."
Shaw stepped back and Jean stepped forward. As Shaw had predicted, Scott showed no desire to fight her, for he knew that he couldn't.
"Jean…You know I can't fight you," said Scott as he took a step back as he saw the cold look in her eyes, "You know I can't hurt you."
"Then you will die!" yelled Jean as she rose her hand into the air and used her telekinesis to levitate Scott several feet off the ground. She then proceeded to apply slow pressure upon his neck, slowly beginning to choke the air out of the young man's lungs.
"Jean…" struggled Scott as he felt her slowly trying to squeeze the life out of him, "You've got to fight it! I felt it within you through our link! I know you can do it!"
"NO!" shot Jean back with more anger, "YOU DID SOMETHING TO MY MIND! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID, BUT UNLESS YOU UNDO IT I WILL MAKE YOU PAY!"
"I didn't do anything to your mind Jean," said Scott, blocking out all the pain in his body as much as he could, "It's Shaw who's screwing with your mind! He's placed an illusion on you! He's making you think that he's me!"
"What! You're crazy!" said Jean, not believing one word of it, "You're fucking crazy!"
"It's true Jean…Have I ever lied to you?" said Scott, trying to maintain his focus.
Whatever had happened to her mind last time was getting worse now as she remembered the fuzzy memory of the battle within her mind. Her grip on him began to fluctuate between tight choking holds and loose uncertain grasps that almost dropped him back onto the floor. But either way, it was clear that Jean was struggling with something. Even Shaw could see it.
"Don't listen to him my Queen…Finish him!" ordered Shaw.
Jean looked back up at the young man hanging in the air before her. All it would take was one telekinetic burst and she could snap his neck. But Scott could see the confusion in her eyes. He could see the woman he loved within the exterior that Shaw had imposed upon her. Scott Summers mentally prepared himself for what he was about to attempt next, for he would not hold back this time…He would not allow himself to fail.
"I'm telling the truth Jean…You are being controlled," said Scott as he prepared to go full force into their mind link and save the woman he loved, "I know you're stronger than any illusion that a prick like Shaw can throw upon you. It's like I said before…I know you better than anybody ever has…Or ever will."
Those words once again struck a chord within Jean Grey as the cloudy uncertainty within her mind once again flared under the shell of illusions that the Hellfire Club had cast upon her. This one moment was all Scott needed as he closed his eyes and focused on their link and nothing else. Like a sudden ride on a roller coaster through a tunnel of light, Scott once again found himself on the wavy, misty setting of Xavier institute once again. This time, he knew what to do and what to look for as he eagerly ran through the dark, grassy field towards the center where a weak Jean Grey lay in a weakened state in the center of it all.
"Jean!" yelled Scott as he ran with all his might towards her, "I'm coming Jean!"
"Oh no you don't!" said a familiar dark voice.
Before Scott could react, he felt a harsh kick from the side knock him off his path. But he fought through the pain of the blow and got right back up as he once again came face to face with his dark counterpart.
"YOU!" said the dark Scott, "Why do you insist on being such a pest! Haven't I shown you that all your efforts are futile!"
"Sorry…I must not have heard you," taunted the real Scott, through letting this phony illusion taunt and tease him from saving Jean, "Then again…I think I've shown you that I really don't care."
"Fool…If it is death that you desire…It is death that I shall bring you!" bellowed his dark counterpart as he unleashed a wave of powerful optic blasts.
Scott managed to dodge them by diving off to the side, but like last time he found that he could not fire back.
"Damn it…" he said to himself as his darker self prepared another shot, "He still has the upper hand…"
He kept trying dodge, but he couldn't keep it up forever. The longer this went on the weaker he would get. Like it or not, this was not his mind…This was Jean's. And if he was going to have any hope of succeeding, he would need her to help him.
"Jean! Come on! This is YOUR mind! Not his!" he urged as he dodged another blast, "He's using you…He's making you weak! Don't let him control you anymore! He's the source of it all! He's the one you have to overcome! Please Jean…Help me…And I can you can beat this illusion for good!"
The weakened Jean Grey in the center of the mysterious area that had imprisoned her and kept her under control through illusion began to stir as she heard Scott's words. For so long now…The deep part of her mind that was Jean Grey had been shelled in by illusion and weakened by confusion. The dark Scott had been there to keep her in control while feeding her lies about who she was. And until now…She believed him. The memory of the light Scott and all his struggles began to resonate more clearly as she watched him fight on with more and more vigor. The clouded memories that had been suppressed were starting to return to her and she felt strength within herself once again. And in watching the light Scott fight the dark one…She finally felt the feelings that had been forcibly suppressed by the illusions.
"Scott…" she whispered as she began to through the pain.
Suddenly, Scott felt his powers return to him and didn't waste time in sending one well placed shot directly at his dark counterpart, sending him flying back in shock.
"That's it Jean! You're doing it! Don't let him control you any longer!" urged Scott as he finally felt himself get somewhat of an upper hand on this fight.
"ERR! NOBODY BEATS ME IN MY WORLD!" yelled the dark Scott as he quickly returned to his feet and turned towards Jean, "I will not allow you to get the better of me in my domain of dominance. You are weak and I am strong…You cannot win."
Then, with a gesture of his hand, the dark Scott cast a sudden energy cage around Jean…Once again confining her. But this moment of anger was all that the light Scott needed to make his move. It was now or never…He could not hold back any more. Pushing his body to the limit, he tackled his dark counterpart and forced him to the ground in an epic light/dark struggle. He couldn't let Jean down now…Not after everything they had been through together. If she didn't have the strength…Then he would give it to her. He knew she was strong enough and if either of them failed now, all would be lost.
"Jean! You are NOT weak! You are NOT a slave to this imposter!" urged Scott as he soon found himself being overpowered by the darker half, "Remember Jean…Remember me, remember the X-men, remember your family, and remember us…"
Jean watched as the dark Scott began to overpower the light Scott. The dark Scott was completely distracted by rage now and Jean could feel the impact of the light Scott's words. All the fuzzy memories, the incoherent thoughts, the half truths and partial lies…They were beginning to come back to her as she remembered what Scott had said once again. He knew her…He knew her inner strength. Through this bond they shared…She could feel his love, friendship, and connection with her. Through it…Memories, thoughts, and feelings that were truly Jean Grey brought strength to her true from. Rising to her feet, she finally stopped believing in what the dark Scott had told her. She knew who was lying and who was telling the truth now. Fighting the pain and uncertainty that had held her back…Jean Grey rose to her feet and closed her eyes as she brought together the thoughts that had been suppressed from her mind. In the depths of her mind, the illusions couldn't cloud her…They merely weakened her true from. Now, thanks to Scott and his words of strength and encouragement, she finally began to collect herself within the depths of her mind and gain strength in the world that was hers and hers alone.
"This is my mind…" said Jean as she began to feel the dark Scott's hold loosen as a result of his fighting with the lighter counterpart, "I know who I am. I…Am Jean Grey."
Suddenly, the dark Scott let out an agonizing yell of pain as he fell back and Scott rose to his feet. Looking over at Jean, a smile spread across Scott's face as he saw the energy cage disappear around her and the background of this strange, dream-like world began to shift.
"You're doing it Jean…You're doing it!" encouraged Scott, "Remember! You know the truth! All you have to do is accept it."
As Jean opened her eyes and looked back at Scott with the look that he had fallen in love with so long ago, the powerful link that united their minds shone brighter than ever as she finally pushed aside that which she knew were lies.
Suddenly, the dark Scott's image dissolved and an hazy image of Sebastian Shaw now stood before them, stripped of all the power he had of this domain.
"It's over Shaw…" said Scott.
"NO! I CAN STILL KILL YOU!" yelled Shaw as he lunged forth at Scott with rage in his eyes.
But before he could take another step, Scott unleashed a single devastating optic blast on full power…Blowing the ghastly image that had haunted Jean for too long now into dust.
Then, as the dark image of his counterpart disappeared for good, the stars began to shine in a brighter, wavy form than any natural force could ever hope to muster. As the tired, yet triumphant Jean stood in control of her own mind once again, Scott walked over to her and took her in his strong arms, embracing her tightly and lovingly.
"I knew you could do it…I knew you were strong enough," said Scott softly as he gently caressed her face.
Jean looked upon Scott's face with tears in her eyes, absorbing the endless love from his touch that she felt deprived of for too long. The illusions were but fragile shells now. All she would have to do was break them and she would be herself again. She wanted to stay in this beautiful dream world with this feeling of deep content soothing her soul forever…But there was work to be done in the real world as well.
"Thank you Scott…Thank you for giving me the strength," said Jean as she cried into his chest.
"You had it all along Red…" he whispered softly.
"I love you so much…" she cried in a voice barely audible, yet thick with emotion.
"I love you too," whispered Scott gently.
Then, Jean found herself do something she had wanted to for a long time. In this dream world that was hers to mold, she removed Scott's visor and set her gaze upon the eyes that had always been blocked from her. They were a beautiful shade of blue unlike anything she had ever seen before. She had always wanted to see his eyes…Now, in the midst of this amorous link that was stronger than ever, she finally saw the full face of the man she loved.
Slowly, as the world around them faded…Both young lovers met in a deep kiss as the shells of illusion and lies began to crumble around them.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" yelled Jean as she fell to the floor, dropping Scott from her telekinetic hold in the process.
The fatigued, yet still conscious Scott struggled to get up, but Jean was already wide awake with anger as she rose to her feet and looked back at Shaw with unbridled rage in her eyes.
"YOU!" yelled Jean as she stood before him with her fists clenched with rage.
"My Red Queen…I'm disappointed in you," said Shaw in a dark tone, "I thought you were stronger…But I guess I was mistaken."
"NO!" shot Jean as she prepared to unleash the full force of her powers upon this man that had used and defiled her so much, "I was weak because of you…I gave into your lies! Now I know the truth! The WHOLE truth! You used me!"
Tears were now streaming down Jean's face as a look of anger and pain fell upon her face as she remembered everything he did to her. He made her forget her past and hurt her friends. He had used her as a nothing more tool. He raped her body and had her mind and nearly made her kill the man she loved.
"I offered you the world…Power and riches beyond your wildest dreams," said Shaw as he prepared to take on the angry, distraught redhead before him, "And you threw it all away. If you won't be my queen…Then you will die."
"ERR! TAKE THIS!" yelled Jean as she blasted Shaw with a massive wave of telekinetic force that blew out the windows and part of the wall.
Shaw quickly absorbed the force and hit back the debris with ease as the intensity doubled within his body.
"Throw whatever force you want at me…I will simply absorb it and return it with twice the devastation!" taunted Shaw as he rushed towards her, prepared to deliver the single death blow, "The more you fight me…The stronger I become!"
As the Black King drew near, Scott suddenly appeared beside Jean and switched his visor to its maximum level.
"Then let's see just how much energy you can absorb…" said Scott.
Then, in a massive burst of optic firepower and telekinetic force, Cyclops and Jean Grey threw every bit of effort into their collective blow they could. Shaw let his body absorb the energy and amplify it…But the sheer level of it was nearly too great to handle.
"ERR! You will NOT beat me…" grunted Shaw as he kept absorbing their blasts.
Scott and Jean didn't let up…They kept on blasting, letting Shaw absorb more and more energy. The Black King's face began to contort in a vivid array of pain and struggle as his body just kept absorbing and amplifying more and more force. Soon…The force became so great that it felt as though his body was going to explode from the inside out. He tried to move forward to take them out…But his body soon became too overstuffed with force to do anything as he felt himself on the verge of exploding.
"NO! I WILL NOT BE BEATEN! I WILL CRUSH YOU IN THE PALM OF MY HANDS! I AM THE BLACK KING! I WILL NOT BE DENIED!"
But no matter how angry he got, the level of force was just too great for any body to bear. His own ability to amplify force was turning against him. Finally…A deafening explosion blew the body of the proud Black King back in a crumpled heap as all the force in his body and became too great to contain. As the smoke cleared and Scott and Jean halted their barrage…All that remained in the smoking center of the room was the still, defeated body of Sebastian Shaw.
As Jean forced herself to take deep, calming breaths…She collapsed into Scott's ready arms and began to cry. She cried and she cried…For all that Shaw had done to her could not be undone. She knew the truth now. She knew how he had used her and how she had surrendered to the pressure of Hellfire Club's torture. Now here she was…In Scott's arms. His image helped the club trick her…But this was the real Scott. She knew it in her heart and simply poured her tears into his chest as she felt his strong, loving arms embrace her.
"It's okay Jean…It's over," he said softly as he soothed the woman he loved in his arms, "It's finally over."
-UPSTAIRS, EMMA-
Emma was running down the halls. She was in such a determined state of mind now that whenever a Hellfire Guard got close, she just gave them the biggest pain in their minds they ever felt in their lives. They were knocked out form the sheer pain, but she didn't care. She had to find Vincent before it was too late. She knew that he must be with Jason in the same room where they must have done the same to both Rogue and Jean in order to break their mental barriers.
Now that she was out of the lower levels that were shielded from telepaths, she could reach out to his mind. She felt someone in deep pain and knew it had to be him. She focused on that and ran towards it. Beast was right on her heels along with Betsy and Warren. Betsy also used her telepathy to knock out all of the unshielded minds of the guards.
Emma found the large white double doors to the place where the sense of pain was great and she was worried that they might have been too late. She never grew close to people as a rule after her family got rid of her, but somehow this man had slipped past her defenses. He had helped her though this even though she never asked for it. He had given her strength and hope where she had none ever since the day they had placed that damn collar on her.
She opened the door and saw Jason standing over his form. He looked up in surprise at her. She saw Vince jerking in the chair and felt great pain in him, causing her anger flared up.
"YOU!" she blasted him with her most powerful mental assault. This man had ripped through her mind when they had caught her trying to get past her defenses, but hadn't been strong enough. Then during her torment with Selene, he had been one of the bastards that used her for his own little 'fun' and now she saw that he was causing pain to someone who had given up what he had held off for so long all because of her.
She didn't know it was possible, but she increased her power and managed to overwhelm him. Jason cried out in pain, grabbing his head as his eyes rolling back in his head and slumped to the floor. Then, to her surprise, he shimmered and changed. His appearance had been just an illusion…In reality, he was an ugly little man and the fact he had been in her sickened her more.
"Mastermind?" Hank exclaimed seeing the body.
"You know this troll?" Betsy said looking at him with scorn in her eyes.
"He works for Magneto," Hank said, remembering how he had used him to alter Wanda's mind. She had regained her lost memories, so that meant that there was hope to get back Rogue and Jean. He was also glad Wanda wasn't here. After all of this, she might have killed him upon seeing him again.
"Magneto was once a member, but he was kicked out," Emma explained. "He must have sent this one in as a spy." She then looked to Vince who wasn't looking good at all. He was pale, sweating, moaning, and writhing on the metal table. She was worried about what had been done to him.
Hank came over and checked his vitals. "He looks like he's having a seizure or something," Hank said, gravely opening an eye seeing it was rolled back.
"I'm going in…It's the only way to help him," Emma said sternly and placed her hands on his head and sent herself into her mind. She soon found herself in a disma,l horrible dungeon that looked like it was straight out of nightmare. She heard moaning and cries of pain and a sound that made her sick to her stomach. She walked on and soon made her way into a room with torture devices that would make Selene feel at home. There on a table, she saw a large, 'executioner' type man with a black mask. And on the table, she saw it was Vincent on that table and then to her horror, she saw the man place a nasty looking knife covered in blood on a tray with other bloodied tools.
He then pulled out Vincent's heart and dropped it in a bucket, but despite this Vincent was still moving…He was still alive. "Get away from him!" Emma shouted out and with her mind, flung the large man into an iron maiden and closed it in on him. She heard a death cry, but she ignored it…For she was more worried about Vincent.
Looking at him, he looked like something out of a horror movie. His chest was open and in the bucket, she saw not just one, but many hearts. He must have made him go through this countless times…Forcing him to relive the pain over and over again. Then, she noticed something hanging on the wall. At first she thought they were T-shirts, but they had a cut down the center and the inside was all red and there on the front was the tattoo Vincent had and she then realized it was his skin. "Oh God…What did he do to you?" She whispered tears falling from her face from the suffering he must have gone through.
At the moment he was out of it. With her mind she closed the 'wounds' on his 'body' and grabbed hold of him. She changed the scenery to a picturesque bright valley. There was a gentle stream running beside them and they were under a tree with a nice pleasant wind. This was a memory she had created to help her through the tough times…When she needed a sense of peace. Right now, his head was on her lap as she stroked his face. "Vincent…Wake up please…Please come back to us…Come back to me," She said softly to him, worried that his mind might have been destroyed by what he had gone through.
She felt him move and his eyes slowly opened up. "Emma?" he asked weakly. "Please…Am I dead yet?" He pleaded. He had just been through the worse experience of his life and if there ever was a way to go through a literal hell, then that was as close as he was ever going to get. He closed his eyes as the memories of that horror replayed over in his mind. "The pain…"
"Shhh," she hushed him, bending down and holding him as she stroked his face. He felt the calm and serenity of this place. Feeling her warmth flow over him, he embraced her in his arms and hugged her close. For a minute, the two troubled souls managed to forget the outside world as they were now in a world of their own. Both of them felt a sense of peace that neither had felt in their life before now. Neither one of them wanted this moment to end to leave this place. After going through what felt like hell, it was like finding heaven, but they did stop.
Emma pulled out of his mind and saw that he was calm and still. His body was no longer shaking and the color was back in it. He was also no longer wearing a collar or bound to the table. She guessed the others had done that. She saw his eyes slowly open and on seeing her there was a small smile on his face, she couldn't help, but smiled back.
"Are you ready to get out of here?" She asked him.
He felt his strength returning now that the collar was off and slowly got off the table and stood up. He then took a deep breath, feeling the energy course through his veins again. "Try and stop me." Vincent said with a grin as he followed them out.
-Grand Hall-
It was once more a battleground in the giant mansion and once again everyone had split up, but this time they had others to help out. Sage was a well trained operative of SHIELD and the guards had no chance against her and the telepathy she wielded.
Colossus and Kitty were dealing with the cyborgs that were left. They fired their weapons, but they either had no effect against Colossus or passed straight through Kitty. Wanda was hexing the guards' guns and the cyborgs causing them to short out, but also wanted to get to Kurt, for the last time he went up against his sister, he had been beaten and was worried for him.
"We so totally could use some help!" Kitty said behind Piotr as he was shielding her from rifle rounds.
"It is too bad the others had to find our missing compatriots," Piotr agreed and ripped a pillar out of its place and threw it at several guards scattering them.
"Alright we got them surrounded!" one of the Reavers yelled out. "Close up on them and take them out!"
Before they could enclose on them, a giant crimson energy blast ripped a wall apart and scattered everyone near it. The blast was so large that everyone looked over to see what had caused it and as the dust settled, a young man with dark hair and hairy face that was covered in scars and bandages walked out with Emma, Hank, Betsy, and Warren behind him.
"I didn't know he could do that," one of the Reavers said to himself. He had been one of the combatants sent to capture that mutant and he knew from personal experience that he was strong and tough skinned. "Everyone switch to lethal rounds! Non-lethal won't work on that guy!"
The new arrivals ran out at them. Emma turned into her diamond form causing the bullets to bounce off her 'skin' while she fought amongst the guards, breaking bones from her hard punches and kicks. Beast took on the cyborgs, jumping over one with tank treads for a lower body and lifting him up into the air and throwing him into another one.
Betsy was all too happy to finally get some action. After everything she had been through, she needed to get out all her anger from her capture and with her Hand ninja training, she was a dynamo of fists and feet, easily disarming guards and breaking limbs in the process. She even used her psi-blade a knife like blade of purple psychic energy that disabled anyone it touched.
Warren flew around as well, always making sure that she had her back covered. He had just found her again and he wasn't going to lose her. Seeing her charge into that dungeon was a sight he welcomed. He found it ironic how he came to save her only to have her rescue him, but he didn't care. All he cared was that she was with him and they had to get out…After that, anything else could wait.
Vincent moved in a blur of motio,n using his super speed from his large energy reserves, only he used it as little as possible. His speed drained his energy faster then any of this other powers and he was still weak. His large energy reserves allowed him to do many things. He wasn't quite sure how it worked, but he gained invulnerability, could influence energy fields around him in order to fly, increase his speed, strength, and every manipulation like his energy beams.
With the extra mutants, the odds were now in their favour. Then in the sea of battle Vince saw him…The cyborg with the skull face that had killed Father Michaels. "YOU!" he shouted out, his anger rising in his eyes and fists taking on a crimson glow. He walked over to him, knocking guards and cyborgs aside like they weren't ever there. The man's back was turned to him and Vince quickly turned him around and with one punch smashed in the faceplate and sending the cyborg into a wall, denting it and dropping the rifle in the process.
Before he knew what hit him, he was lifted by his throat by a tight vice-like grip, cutting off his air. Then he locked onto the flaming crimson eyes of the boy he helped to capture and saw the bloody rage and vengeance in them. He was sure he was about to die from that look.
Vincent was about to kill this man…He wanted to so badly. The image of the closest thing he ever had to a father in his life…Of that man's throat being cut open was burned in his mind. He knew it would be so easy just crush the throat until the head popped off. All he had to do was just squeeze a bit tighter. But then, it would mean that he had killed a man in cold blood.
He thought of the code of honour his sensei had taught him and how Father Michaels had raised him to believe that there were just some things, some lines that you don't cross…And killing a man like this was one of them. He so badly wanted to kill him, the pain of his death hurt him more then anything Selene had done to him…But at this moment, when his vengeance was in his hand, he found that he couldn't kill…He just couldn't kill a man in cold blood.
The light faded from his eyes, even though his anger and rage was still there and he just dropped the man as he gasped for air. He turned around and slammed a fist with a blood curdling rage into a pillar shattering it.
Wanda saw that and wondered what it was about, but she wanted to find Kurt. Than, as she saw the hall he had gone down and was about to run off to it, she heard Kitty scream. She turned around to see this skull faced cyborg with a rifle levelled at her, frozen in her place, wondering if this was it for her.
Vincent had heard the brunette's scream and looked behind him. The cyborg obviously knew he couldn't fight him so he settled to shooting this one girl in the back. His anger flared again and quickly with his left hand pushed the rifle out of the way, grabbed his face with his right hand and with his right foot, used his heel to kick out the one of the feet of the cyborg and slammed him backwards into the floor.
He heard a sickening crack and felt the skull shift in his hand. The body was twitching and he knew…He knew he had just killed him. He hadn't thought he had just reacted and now…Now he didn't know how he felt.
'An eye for an eye…'Those were the words the cyborg spoke before he had killed Father Michaels. "A tooth for a tooth…A life…For a life." Vincent whispered out, finishing the last of the line.
Elsewhere in the battle, Pierce was leading the remaining forces himself, trying to get these mutants under control, but it proved difficult. He went at the large metal one since he seemed to be doing the most damage and with a right hook caught Piotr in the jaw.
He staggered back from the blow. The force of it wasn't as hard as others, but the impact from how hard the hand did hurt. He looked at the blond man in white with metal limbs. "You freaks think you can take on the Hellfire Club? Well I'll turn you into a hollowed out shell in my trophy room!" Pierce shouted and saw the brunette looking a bit concerned at the tall metal one and he grinned. "Maybe I'll make that little one there my personal plaything after you're dead too."
Piotr saw him looking at Kitty and knew he was just saying that to get him angry…And it seemed to work. Kitty had been nothing but a great friend to him. He held her in high regard and so he decided to end this. He sent a fist out but the White King blocked it with a forearm and was surprised that there was no damage.
"Adamantium limbs you backwater peasant!" He lunched a few more punches at Pitor and then he noticed something about the arms.
He grabbed hold of both and then stepped on both of the man's feet. "You're limbs are adamantium, but your joints are not!" Piotr shouted and then pulled as fast as he could and ripped the artificial limbs off at the elbows. Pierce screamed in rage other then pain and Piotr then grabbed the metal stubs and pulled again, ripping his metal legs off at the knees.
He dropped the now helpless cyborg and now looked like a helpless turtle on its back. He screamed and yelled at him, raging how he would get him back for that, but Piotr didn't listen. He just went to the next threat. When the others saw that the White King was taken out, that killed off the fight in them and started them all running.
Logan and Ororo were running down the halls towards the sounds of battle when Logan caught a scent and stopped them. "Logan what are you-" Ororo didn't finish as Deathstrike walked into view from an intersection.
"It's time we finished this," Deathstrike said coldly. "You will pay for killing my father."
Ororo looked shocked at her then to Logan asking him to explain. "He was part of Weapon X…Apparently I killed him on my way out. Look Yuriko, I don't know what happened, but that was done against my will. They wiped my memories and if he was there, then he was part of that!"
"I won't listen to your lies!" she spat at him and looked to Ororo. "Who is this? Is she the new woman in your life?" she scoffed with a mocking tone. "Are you going to sleep with her too and then kill her family as well? Maybe I should kill her first so you know the pain you've caused me!"
Ororo had heard enough of this. There was no time for this and after what she had done to Logan before, she wanted to make this women pay. She didn't care about what she was talking about and it was time to end this. Her eyes turned white and a gale force wind picked up. Deathstrike tried to stand up to it, but it was forcing her back, she used her claws to dig into the floor.
Ororo then sent a lightning bolt at the other woman's chest sending her through the air and into a wall. Logan looked over to Storm as the winds died down and she looked at him with a stern gaze. "We had no time for her." And then walked ahead of him.
"Hey I ain't complain'," he said to her. His body was still feeling the effects of that last fight and she was right they didn't have the time for round two.
-Kurt and Gambit-
As soon as Kurt reached the hallways in the upper level, he began to head back towards the audience chamber like Scott had done. Gambit followed close behind, still bent on finding Rogue and finishing what he started with her before all this madness happened. He didn't want him to take on Rogue in his current state of mind. After what he endured, there was a good chance that he could get careless and possibly get himself seriously hurt or worse. And if there's one thing Rogue didn't need at this point, it was losing her little brother.
However, they didn't have to go far to find her. Just as they turned the corner leading to the audience hall, they were met with another group of masked Hellfire guards. And behind them all…Rogue stood noticeably irked by the sight to the two foes she thought she had already taken care of.
"You two are gettin' on my nerves! Kill them!" she ordered.
The guards rushed them, but Kurt didn't wait for them to get close. Driven by his rage towards this heinous club, he frantically and aggressively began to teleport his way through the crowd, using his acrobatic skills to punch and kick his way through each guard. And although Gambit didn't have his bow staff this time around, he still had his cards and wasted no time in using them in quick, decisive bursts. Neither mutant held back this time as they dropped each guard one by one, but this only seemed to irritate Rogue further.
"Enough Rogue!" said Kurt as he drop kicked the last guard, "This has to end! You have to stop listening to these horrible monsters and all their lies!"
"You pathetic little freak!" said Rogue as she activated Cyclop's powers and prepared to blow him away like she should have the first time around, "I am the Green Knight! And I will personally make sure anybody who stands against the Hellfire Club suffers!"
"You're too late for that Rogue…I've already suffered…" said Kurt as the wounds that Selene induced began to sting as he looked his sister in the eye.
Rogue didn't waste time as she let out an angry grunt and fired a single blast towards the young man. However, Kurt managed to teleport out of the way and appeared behind her where he quickly grabbed her arms behind her back in a move that Logan had taught him. He knew Rogue was plenty strong enough to break free, so he would have to work fast if he was to reach her.
"IT'S ALL LIES!" yelled Kurt into her ears as she struggled against the raging young man, driven by the effects of what Selene did to him, "YOU ARE NOT A SLAVE TO THESE MONSTERS! THEY USED YOU! THEY TORTURED YOU! THEY RAPED YOU!"
Suddenly, Rogue felt the strange sensation that she had experienced the first time she had touched Kurt and Remy. Strange images that looked like memories, yet were any she remembered, flashed before her once again, stopping her from summoning the strength of Blob or Colossus and breaking free from Kurt's grasp. But this time…The images were supplemented with new, horrible memories that were triggered by Kurt's mention of rape. Strange, unclear images of her being ravaged by guards began to surface and she tried pushing them aside…But they felt so real.
"STOP IT! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! YOU'RE TRYIN' TO TRICK ME!" yelled Rogue in response as she felt herself losing her ability to focus.
"He's right cherè," said Gambit in a calmer voice as he stepped forward, unafraid of what she would to him now after having seen some of the horrors that this club was capable of, "We're not tryin' to trick you. We are your friends. Kurt is your brother…And he's tellin' the truth. You are being used. Everythin' you think is real is a lie. The Hellfire Club wants you to think that…"
"NO! IT'S NOT TRUE!" shot Rogue as more confusion gripped her as she started to manifest some of the memories she had absorbed from Kurt and Remy the first time.
"It is true cherè…" said Gambit as he now stood a few inches from the confused young woman that had been so brutally warped because of the physical and mental torture she endured, "They warped your mind and ravaged your body, all for one reason…To control you."
"No…" she said, as once again began to lose control of her thoughts, "I don't believe you."
"Dat's because the club has made you think that you're weak…And trust me Rogue, I know you ain't weak," said Gambit in a tone that was calm and reassuring…A tone that Rogue recognized, "I know what it's like to be confused and angry at the world. Remember…You and I have been down the same roads in life."
Suddenly, another image flashed before Rogue's mind…This time it was the image of her and Gambit during the time they spent in New Orleans after he 'kidnapped' her. She remembered hearing those words and connecting with the feelings she had at that moment.
"I came here to start over again…To make amends for past mistakes," said Gambit as he gently placed his hand on her shoulders, locking his eyes with hers, "You've absorbed Gambit's thoughts and feelings…You know that I care about you. You know that I understand you. And you understand me…It's just taken some time to see things clearly. And if I can do it…So can you. You're strong Rogue…Don't let de Hellfire Club taint that. I know it…You're brother knows it…And you know it."
Rogue's head began to spin in an array of conflicting thoughts, feelings, and images. Gambit's words had only triggered the thoughts she had absorbed from him and Kurt to grow within her mind…Awakening other suppressed memories in the depths of her mind. One by one…Her confusion began to crack through the illusions as hard feelings and memories began to overtake the lies that she had so blindly believed.
"Please…Stop," she urged as she began to grow weak from the ongoing battle in her head, "You're lying…You're lying…"
"I ain't lyin' cherè…" said Gambit as he placed his hands gently on her face, "If I am…Take my memories and life force. Dey will show you the truth."
"And take mine…" added Kurt as he took his sister's hand, "Ve vill show you the truth…"
With an angry look on her face, she gritted her teeth as she let out confused grunt and absorbed the life force of Kurt Wagner and Remy Lebeau. She had the full intention of absorbing them until they were dead this time…But her confused mind was unable to filter out the incoming stream of memories. Among them were memories of her past when she was recruited by Mystique, joined the X-men, found out that Kurt was her brother and Mystique was her foster mother, and saw the vivid memories that Remy had of her through all their meetings leading up to her capture. In addition…She felt some of Gambit's feelings towards her and remembered the weak feeling she felt for him when he tried to make amends with her until Deathstrike showed up. Then…She felt Kurt's fresh memories of his ordeal with Selene and it triggered the traumatic experience she had as well when she was 'punished.'
The illusions that Jason had forced upon her were finally beginning to fade and as the vivid detail and feelings from her rape and torture finally grew clearer, she couldn't take it anymore.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Rogue then let go of Kurt and Gambit as they fell back, light headed yet still conscious. She then fell to the floor, grasping her head as she felt all the illusions fade and the truth of what had happened set in. Everything the Hellfire Club had done to her…Everything they had put her through was now as clear as if it had just happened. The hurt she felt and the suffering she had endured only to surrender in the end all became too much for her as she collapsed in a wave of uncontrolled tears.
Although he was drained from the absorption, Gambit had managed to drag his weakened body over to her and hold as she wept.
"It's okay Rogue…You're gonna be okay now," said Gambit softly as he gently stroked her hair and ran his hands along the smooth skin he had been unable to touch until this moment. He took off his duster and wrapped her up in it to cover up her exposed form. She clung to the fabric and he held her again.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry," she cried, unable to contain her emotions at the thought of nearly killing them both.
The vivid recollections of the rape she had endured and the mental torture she had suffered caused undue pain her already traumatized mind. And as she lay, dazed and confused, she felt her powers start to falter once more. The whole structure of the building began to shake and rattle as Avalanche's powers suddenly manifested as Rogue could no longer organize her thoughts enough to keep them under control. She was in a strange state between consciousness and fainting.
As the shaking began to grow worse, the others showed up in the hall and saw their three friends in their weakened state.
"Kurt!" yelled Wanda as she rushed over to his side. The absorption from Rogue coupled with the pain he had endured from Selene had weakened him far more than Gambit. But he was still conscious and upon hearing Wanda's voice, managed a slurred response.
"Wanda…"
Not wasting any time with the building collapsing around them, Wanda hitched one of Kurt's arms around her neck and began to lead him out, mindful of his wounds. Colossus helped the weakened Gambit while Ororo and Logan helped Rogue to her feet. Vincent, Emma, Beast, Tessa, Betsy, and Warren followed as they met up with Scott and Jean at the end of the hallway.
"The whole place is coming down!" yelled Scott as debris began to fill the hallway, "We have to get out of here!"
"You got a knack for stating the obvious bub!" replied Logan as they continued to make their way down through the vast building and towards the exit.
With their rescued friends and the rest of the Hellfire Club's prisoners in hand, the X-men made a frenzied run through he main hall as the lights began to flicker and entire sections of the ceiling began to crumble. The supports on each level threatened to shatter and several floors threatened to collapse on them. But before that could happen, they all managed to reach the outside and escaped into the dark street of the night. Once they were a safe distance, they all stopped to look back at the crumbling building as it began to fall under the force of its own weight.
Noticing Rogue's discomfort, Ororo gently helped sooth her troubled mind, knowing that she and the others had been through enough.
"It's okay now Rogue…Rest. You are back with your friends now."
"Will she be alright?" asked Gambit, short of breath, but still conscious as he limped over to her and ran his hand down the side of her tear stained face.
"Don't worry Gumbo…She'll have the best of care," said Logan.
As one last tear fell down her face, Rogue finally let herself collapse into a world of unconsciousness, stopping any use of her powers in the process. Now, the building that had once housed the proud and powerful Hellfire Club crumbled into a twisted heap of wood and concrete. The people that had brutally tortured and used them were now left in ruin. For those like Emma Frost and Sage, who had survived the torture the longest, it was a strange, sobering moment that their minds struggled to process.
"It's over…" said Emma, unable to keep herself from shedding tears at the sight she never thought she would see, "The nightmare's finally over."
Emma was never one to get too overly emotional, but the thought of being free from the Hellfire Club after all the pain they had caused her was simply too much for her to contain as she broke down in a fit of uncontrollable tears into Vincent's waiting arms. And even though he was still in a great deal of pain from all the torture he had endured, feeling this young woman's tears of joy helped sooth his deeply troubled soul. He gently caressed her long hair and held her close with another hand at the small of her back. Even though he only had on torn pants and bandages and the cold of the night nipped at him a little, he hugged her close. Emma felt strangely comforted in his arms, maybe because in some way she felt like he could understand her better then anyone from his own experience, but she didn't care…She didn't care she was crying.
She just felt safe for the first time in so long that she couldn't remember the last time, and she wanted to savor the moment.
Over with Kurt, who had endured Selene's sexual assault, he was finally coming to as a result of being drained by Rogue. He was still clinging to Wanda, full of wounds and marks. His body would heal…But his mind was another story.
"Kurt…Are you going okay?" she asked, looking at the pained expression in the young man's eyes as he looked back up at her.
"I'm getting there…" he said weakly, "But don't vorry…I'll heal…Eventually."
However, Wanda knew from personal experience that such a task was easier said than done. She could tell by the look on his face that he felt hurt, ashamed, and violated on so many levels. Now he would need her more than ever to get through this trying time both with his sister and what he had endured. But if there was one thing that Kurt had showed her in all the time she had known him at the institute…It was the power of simply having faith.
"You'll be okay fuzzy…I'm here for you, I promise," smiled Wanda which helped ease to ease his suffering.
Both Kitty and Piotr couldn't help but smile at the tender moment between Wanda and Kurt, for it only helped vindicate what Kitty had seen earlier. But in observing the look on her face, Piotr couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Not going to say anything Katya?" said the Russian as he looked down at the smiling young girl before him.
"Nope…" she said simply in response, "I think I'll keep my mouth shut this time. There will be plenty of time later on for gossip…Only this time, I don't want to be a part of it."
Over with Betsy and Warren, it was a moment of sorrow and joy. Betsy couldn't bring herself to look Warren in the eye for not listening to him when she should have. He warned her…Yet she didn't listen. Even so…He had fought so hard against such overwhelming odds to rescue her.
"Betsy…" he said softly as he gently enraptured her in his wings.
The purple haired mutant felt tears in her eyes as she looked away from him with a feeling of sorrow.
"Warren…I am so sorry I didn't listen to you," she choked out as she absorbed the feeling of his warm embrace, "I shouldn't have been so stupid…I shouldn't have lost my temper and made such a horrible mistake."
"It's okay…" he whispered, "It doesn't matter now…All that matters is you're here, safe and sound."
Betsy then brought her gaze back up towards his and smiled as she gently snaked her arms around his neck.
"You really are an angel…" she said as she slowly drew her face towards his.
"Takes one to know one…"
And with that, they both met in a soft kiss, thankful to have one another back.
Jean was still in tears even after she saw the building collapse into a pile of rubble before her eyes. Scott's arms were protectively around her, helping to support her weary form. Having learned the truth and remembered so many of the horrible things that the Hellfire Club did to her, she couldn't fight her tears. She had hurt her friends and let a cruel group of heartless power mongers control her. But what hurt most was what she did to Scott. Even though Jason had cast an illusion on her…That didn't change the fact that she had cheated on him. She let another man defile her body many times under the influence of deceit and manipulation. Yet Scott still held her close in a loving embrace, sending gentle feelings of assurance through their bond.
"You're going to be just fine Jean…I promise you," assured Scott as he placed a gentle kiss on the side of her head and gently wiped away her tears, "Remember…I know you better than anybody ever has…"
"Or ever will…" she finished, choking down her last sob as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately, not ever wanting to let go again.
Everybody was tired beyond measure. It had been a long, hard fight for them…Harder than any of them could have imagined. Yet they were all here…Alive and well. They were reunited once again. And as they stood in the ruins of the ruthless organization that had caused them so much hardship, they knew that it was finally over.
"Come on X-men…" said Beast in a tired voice, "Let's go home."
NEXT UP CHAPTER 20: NO PLACE LIKE HOME