Hellfire and Brimstone

CHAPTER 78: SACRIFICE

Chamber of the Gate

"No…NOOOOOO!" yelled Selene as she ran towards the key where Slayer was charging towards at full speed.

She was still on the other side of the gate. The key was on an altar that was right behind the portal to hell and the world of the real. She knew that if that key was destroyed, it would be over. She couldn't have it end like this…She wouldn't. She was the Black Queen…She was the mistress of hell…She couldn't be bested by a mere mortal. She couldn't…

"JACK!" yelled Mystique, who was being held back by Kurt and Rogue as they all watched in horror as their friend plowed into the portal, gripping his sword firmly as he prepared to end this nightmare once and for all.

Selene knew she couldn't reach him…The X-men knew they couldn't stop him…And in the mind of Jack Robinson, this was it. This was his legacy…This was his sacrifice.

'The gate must be closed…By balancing out the forces of darkness and light,' he thought, remembering clearly the words that the text from the book of Hell spoke, 'And the only way to balance darkness…Is through the sacrifice of purity and light.'

Selene's deafening screams echoed through the gate as she struggled to get to the altar in time, but it was no use. Slayer was ready to set things right…He was ready to make sure that the gate of Hell would be sealed, now and forever.

He crossed the threshold of the gate and was shocked by the sudden change of it all, he would feel all the pain, suffering and anguish of not only his life, but countless others. He pushed it aside as he made his way to the alter. A few demons tried to get in his way but he cut them to pieces not stopping, and forcing his legs to move.

It was beyond hot in there and the air hurt his lungs to breath but he had to do it. He had to stop it. He finally reached the alter Selene not too far behind him, he looked out for a second at the horrid landscape full of demons coming towards the gate they blanketed the ground as they marched forward some of them over a hundred feet tall. He knew if he failed this would be what Earth would look like and he wouldn't let that happen.

But before he made his final sacrifice, he made sure that his final words would be every bit as pure as the sacrifice he was about to make.

"Layla…"

He charged up his chi, and then started to channel it all, he sent it all into the sword infusing it with his life essence. He had done so a few times before but it was always risky but never had he used this much of his own life force. He could feel the sword taking in his life essence feeing on the energy that was mystical and spiritual that was mixed into the blade as it glowed a bright white light.

And with one swift motion, Slayer plunged his magic sword into the glowing key…Shattering it and all the evil it embodied into countless pieces. Suddenly, a bright, blinding light erupted from the altar and the horrified X-men were forced to shield their eyes as they watched their friend become engulfed in a blinding flash that permeated all throughout the room and shot through the top of the mountain for everybody to see.

"Everybody down!" yelled Scott as the team hit the floor.

Slayer saw the light and felt it, felt his life energy drain from his body then his body was engulfed in light, there was no pain for him and he knew that the force of this was tarring his body apart but he felt nothing. No pain as the light consumed him.

The blinding light consumed the whole area, causing the vast gate to shake and stammer as the force keeping it open was forever shattered and the vast chi of the mutant warrior inundated the imbalanced darkness of the other side…Consuming Selene and her minions in the process. And with one last agonizing cry, Selene let out her final gasp before succumbing to her ultimate defeat.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

All the light, the fire, and the minions that Selene had unleashed…All the dark chi that had upset the fragile balance between darkness and light…It was all consumed by the blinding flash that emulated from the sacrifice of the lone warrior. Everything was sucked back into the gate like a vacuum, the vast and seemingly unending power flowing back towards its point of origin and its final resting place. The essence of ever last demon, minion, or dark entity that Selene had unleashed was either pulled back in or destroyed by the light…And when the light finally faded, the doors were sealed shut…Never to be opened again.

Then…Silence. Once more, everything in the ancient room was dead silent. Only the sound of the howling winds could be heard echoing through the vast structure. The light was gone…The doors were sealed…And yet they were all alive. All, that is…Except one.

"Is…Is it over?" said Kitty, who was clinging to Piotr as they lay on the hard ground, unsure of whether or not this was really it.

Scott and Vincent were the first ones to arise. Mystique soon followed along with her two kids, tears streaming down her face as she frantically scanned the area for any signs of Jack. She could barely stand as a result of her hysteria and both Kurt and Rogue were forced to keep her up, but she just couldn't help it…She just couldn't believe it. Jack had done it…He had ended it…At the cost of his own life.

"JACK! Jack where are you? Jack…" the shape shifter gasped, feeling short of breath as her system struggled to recover from what she had just seen.

Both Scott and Vincent anxiously approached the Gate. The others soon got up as well, with Logan, Ororo, Piotr, and Jean helping everybody back to their feet. Everybody was in shock…Partially because of what they had just witness and partially from the fact that this was it…This was the end. They had fought the greatest evil ever to come into existence and they won. But at what cost?

"Jack…" gasped Laura as she clung to Logan, her fragile mind struggling to process what had just happened, "Is he…"

Logan just hugged her tightly, knowing this had to be hard for her. Jack was a close friend of hers, almost like an Uncle of sorts. And she had never really experienced death in this context…Few of them had. It just made this all the more difficult as they waited to hear the final word from Scott and Vincent.

There in front of the Gate most likely that was thrown from the explosion of energy was something else. There remained only one final piece of the man that had become such a close friend to them all…His sword. It was buried in the stone floor of the cavern. It was still glowing slightly, shining with every bit of magnificence as the day it was forged from pure, good chi. But the hand that had so skillfully wielded it was no more…Never to touch the decorated piece ever again.

"Oh God…" said Scott, shaking his head in disbelief as he stared at the lone relic of purity and light.

Still struggling to process what was going on, Vincent reached forth and firmly gripped the powerful blade. It was still warm with the power and strength of the purity it so greatly symbolized. And as he pulled it out of the altar and held it in his hand, he could feel the gentle aura that the relic conveyed. But as he gripped it firmly in his hand, the glowing stopped…Confirming what they all feared. Jack Robinson…The tortured young man who had come into their lives and left such a great impact…Was gone.

"He did it…He really did it," said Vincent, feeling a tremendous amount of strain in his voice, "He sacrificed himself to save us…To save the world. He…"

But Vincent couldn't finish. After having lost Father Michaels, he was dealt a blow from which he knew he would never recover from…But having to endure the death of a friend was just more than he could handle.

"No…" said a very horse Mystique, shaking her head in disbelief, "No…Please. Jack…"

"Mama…" said Rogue softly as she tried to support the ailing shape shifter.

"It's okay, Mother…It's okay. I'm sorry…" whispered Kurt, sending a prayer out to God for wherever their friend may be now.

Mystique almost collapsed as she devolved into a fit of sobs. She was never one to cry much…But watching the only man who helped her rebuild her life die was just too much. She was alone again…Her heart once again doomed to isolation. All she could do is cling to her kids, holding them and hugging them tightly as she let out sob after sob.

"He knew…" August found herself saying as she stood in disbelief, "He knew that the only way to close the gate was with a…A sacrifice. But he never said anything…"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, it finally began to settle over the victorious team. Jack Robinson…Was dead.

Tears flooded the eyes of everybody present as Vincent walked back over to the team, holding his head low as he gripped the gleaming sword in his hand. Jean, once again forced to live with the loss of a friend, pulled Scott into a tight embrace and hugged him closely. Scott simply clung back, unable to hide his own tears as the sorrow of such a loss overtook them.

Laura was shaking her head in disbelief, saying "no" over and over again. She kept clinging to Logan, who just kept hugging her as any father should when their child was in pain. She let him cry into his shoulders again…And the sound of his daughter weeping was enough to bring tears to his eyes as well. Ororo seemed to sense this too as she joined her family, taking both tortured souls in her arms and letting out sobs of her own.

For Kitty, who had never had to contend with such a grave loss before, she simply broke down in Piotr's arms. He was now no longer in his metal form, for he wanted to lend her all the warmth and support he knew she needed. The loss of a friend or loved one was always hard and she was going to need his support now more than ever.

Both Remy and Wanda found themselves helping Kurt and Rogue deal with the distraught Mystique, giving them both a ways of managing their own grief. It was a hard moment for both of them, for they had lost enough in this world and just when they were finally really rebuilding their lives…This had to happen. Remy gave Rogue a shoulder to cry on while Wanda lent Kurt her warm embrace, trying to once again sooth the pain of such a loss.

For August, Jack's act proved just how great a warrior he was. He had done the most honorable thing a warrior could do…Give his life for his cause. Both she and Vincent stood transfixed on the sword, reflecting on everything it embodied. Knowing more about the mystical and the way of the warrior than the others, they understood Jack in a way the others didn't. They knew that this was his sacrifice…This was his choice…And the best thing they could do now was to ensure that the sacrifice he made was not done in vain.

"Come on, guys…Let's go," said Vincent, choking on his words as they all gazed mournfully at the sword that symbolized so much.

"No…NO! We can't go!" yelled Mystique, still sobbing incessantly, "We can't just leave him! There's a chance that he may be stuck on the other side! We have to do something to…"

"He's not on the other side, Mystique…" said August with a solemn look, "He did what all great warriors strive to do…He defended his friends, his family, and his honor to the death. He gave his life for us so we could live…He knew what he was doing. And now…Now the forces of darkness and light are balanced once more. And we should honor that…If for anything, for Jack."

Whatever hope still remained for saving their friend died with those final words as Mystique once again collapsed into a wave of unending sobs. Kurt and Rogue were forced to hold onto her, for as strange as it had been…She really did have feelings for that man. He made her feel things in her heart that she never felt before. And now he was gone…Gone forever.

He had come into their lives so unexpectedly and the impact he had left was one that could never be measured. He had made the ultimate sacrifice for them…He had given his life to save them and the world that had caused him so much pain. Now all that was left was his sword…A final symbolic testament to the man and the warrior.

"Come on…We should go," said Scott in a low tone, knowing that the others were probably outside wondering what was going on.

No words were spoken this time as they all began to make their way back out of the now quiet temple. Gone were the sounds of demonic screams and shredded flesh, now replaced by a solemn and utter silence. Scott, Jean, Rogue, Remy, Kurt, Wanda, Kitty, Piotr, Logan, Ororo, Laura, Mystique, Vincent, and August could do no more than take one last look at the sealed gate where Jack had made his final sacrifice…And from there, they sent a final prayer to their fallen friend, wherever he was.

The trek back outside to the foot of the complex was quiet and uneventful, the power of such a loss still hanging so strongly over them. They knew it had been a fight with untold peril and difficulty…They knew that they had been up against nearly impossible odds. Yet still…The fact that one of them hadn't made it out was just so difficult to fathom. Sacrifice or no sacrifice…They had lost more than just a comrade…They had lost a true friend.

By the time they made back outside into the cold Tibetan wind, everybody was eagerly crowded around the entrance. The Professor and Emma had joined them after all the demons disappeared and after sensing such great anguish and sorrow, they feared that something truly horrible had happened. Hank, Sage, and the New Mutants were all gathered there as well, even though some of them were still struggling with injuries. But none of them cared about that as the tension in the air came to ahead as they saw their friends exit the structure with looks of deep sorrow on their face.

"Vincent!" yelled Emma as she ran up to her love and threw her arms around him in a fit of tears, "Vincent…What happened?"

Vincent didn't say anything at first…He just gazed lovingly back at the woman who was going to be his wife and the mother to his future child. There was still a look of great sorrow on his face…A sorrow that Emma clearly sensed through their link.

It was a look that everybody else was quick to pick up on and even though all the demons were gone and the area around them was once again at peace, they knew that something horrible had happened. Amara was quick to run up to August and pull her into an embrace as well and many of the others found themselves leaning in close to one another for support, because they knew in the pit of their stomach that what they were about to hear was going to sting.

"Is…Is it over?" said Jubilee, her hands shaking as she helped Bobby stay on his feet.

"Yeah…Yeah, it's over," said Scott in a low, monotone voice.

"But…What's wrong? What happened?" asked Tabitha, still not getting why everybody was so sad, "Where's…Where's Jack?"

A heavy silence fell over the team as Vincent showed them the final piece of their friend that had survived. And as soon as everybody saw the mysterious relic, it quickly dawned on them what had happened. For Professor Charles Xavier, it was a sad moment. One of his students…One of his friends…Had gone into battle and not come out. He could clearly sense everybody's deep sorrow, making it all the more difficult for him to manage it as well. For while the others didn't want to believe it, he knew it was true…Jack Robinson, the mutant warrior known as Slayer, was dead.

And as both the X-men and the New Mutants crowded around the relic that their friend and fellow teammate had used to slay the forces of darkness, Vincent Freeman took it upon himself to finally confirm that which they all feared.

"He's gone…"

-Mansion-

When they got back to the mansion everyone should have been feeling like celebrating, but none of them did. They came back with one less person then they had gone off with. Jack hadn't been there that long, but he had made an impact on their lives. First step was for those with injures to get looked at and naturally Beast and Sage were just working like machines at the moment.

They were tired, but they still tried to heal the others at least their bodies, but their spirits would take time. Hank was already placing a bandage on Jamie's cheek after it was disinfected and it looked okay. Although Jamie himself seemed to be deeply depressed and for a minute Hank swore he looked several years earlier at the moment but he couldn't blame him.

Hank had already stitched up Warren's side and was ordered bed rest as well. He looked over at Sage working on Bobby and that hadn't been easy. When Bobby had been proud in they had him lay on his stomach and turn back. Immediately, his back started to bleed and they had to cut his uniform off and go to work. Bobby had been in pain and Jubilee held his hand through out it. Hank looked as saw that she was still there for him and he guest that she would want to stay the night even though they had given something for the pain and to make him sleep.

Sage was touching up Bobby's back. There were three long angry red lines on his back and they had just finishes stitching it up. He had a total of sixteen and she knew that he'd have stars to remember this day by for life. They might not be very bad mainly just three white lines after it was fully healed. Now she was placing a bandage over the stitching.

She tried to keep herself emotionless at this, seeing a young boy like that was just so hard. Her shoulder had been reset and was in a sling but still she worked on them even if it was with one hand. She looked at the concerned Jubilee. she had an ice compact pressed to her face and her other hand holding onto his. Even in her emotionless state a small part of her did have to smile a bit at that.

"I'm finished."

"Thanks," the young woman said still looking at Bobby's peaceful face.

She had been holding back her tears. She had heard of Slayer's death and it really hurt, but she had been too busy worrying about Bobby for it to really sink in. Seeing him now like this was just hard, but then when she thought of Slayer she knew that it could have been much worse.

Some could leave walked out, but everybody bore such a heavy heart that it was all but impossible. There was August there in a bed with those magical burn on her. Her skin may be fire proof, but whatever burned her wasn't fire. Amara was sitting with her not wanting to leave. Sage was just bone tired, and with those staying overnight all the work was finally done. She didn't see Hank so she figured she look in the back. He had set up a cot there some time ago before she joined up since he worked so hard down here sometimes he needed a place closer to rest. She walked in and found him on his back looking like he had just collapsed there.

She walked over to him and lay down next to him resting against his body. She was careful to keep her shoulder in the air, but the pain medication she took was finally kicking in. She just needed him at the moment and then felt him gently shift so she was more comfortable.

"I thought you were asleep?"

"I've been trying to, but even though my body wants to, my mind just can't," he gently told her.

This was by far the longest day he could ever remember. He just held her close knowing that sleep wouldn't come easy to either of them. He felt her bury her face against him and soon felt a small stain fro her face. He knew that she was silently crying, just letting the tears come out and he didn't blame her. He just held her close as he could.

Many of them simply went to their rooms or just tried and sleep. Mystique, however, wasn't tired. She just went to her room and shut the door. She had just been numb since it happened. She just sat there totally out of it then she looked at the mirror and walked over to it. Without a word or any warning she just cried out in rage and slammed her fist into it. She went from totally out of it to a raging inferno as she was finally alone.

She cried out in pain and rage at the world as she threw things across the room, screaming and kicking pretty much anything in her path until she was just too tired to move. She just sung down to the ground by her bed and then she did something she hadn't done in years…She cried.

'Why? Why do I feel this pain? We weren't in love, we were hardly dating, we barely knew each…SO WHY DOES IT HURT SO MUCH?' she screamed out in her head. She felt like she had just been kicked in the gut and tore apart inside. 'Why…Why do I have to feel so much pain?'

All her life she buried her pain and her emotions. Only a few people have ever been able to get past her defenses and touch her where it counted. She was angry with herself and Jack at the moment…Angry that she was stupid enough to let someone in again, and angry at Jack for being himself and getting himself killed.

At this moment she felt so alone. He had managed to touch her life, make it seem less empty even if it was just for a bit and now she had lost it. So she just sat there in the dark crying.

Meanwhile Kurt, Rogue, Remy, and Wanda were walking the halls going to their rooms although in silence. That was when they had heard a muffled angry cry and crash. They knew it was from Mystique's room and they also knew that they should go. Wanda touched Kurt's arm looking at him seeing him want to go, "Go on you're mother needs you know."

Kurt didn't know what to say they were all feeling the effects and to be honesty, he just wanted to curl up in a bead with her, but he knew his mother most likely needed him more. She was the closest to Jack after all.

"Zhanks," he said managing a small smile.

"No thanks needed…I think I would know how she would be if I had lost you," she admitted. Truth was, Kurt being her first and greatest love of her life, if she had lost him she would have been devastated. Kurt gave her dark life such warmth and light in it, but she knew that his mother needed him more at the moment.

Rogue watched his and felt someone's hand in hers. She looked to see Gambit giving her hand a small squeeze, "You should go too, sounds like Mystique will need you both." She looked at him just as torn as Kurt for a moment until he gently kissed her lips. "Remy will be here in de mornin' and de next day and de day after that. But she needs you tonight."

"Wow that was…Uncharacteristically deep of you," Wanda said in a bit of surprise like the others.

Gambit just shrugged and gave them his usual grin, "Remy has his moments."

Rogue just had to give a small smile and kissed him on the cheek in thanks as she and Kurt went off to their mother's room leaving Remy and Wanda alone with each other. He turned to the other girl, "So…Want to keep each other company? Remy is not really feeling like he can sleep."

Wanda felt the same at the moment and shrugged, "Why not."

The two of them went down stairs to just sit together on the couch or something. They wouldn't be alone finding a few of the others down there as well. Ray, Roberto, along with Warren and Betsy were also down there as well all of them not being able to sleep that night. So they got together and in the night stayed up just talking. Some just brought up anything that came to mind and slowly they started to talk about Jack and all the things they remembered of him.

It was bitter sweet at the moment, remembering it all and yet it was strange. They all felt to some degree that he wasn't really dead that he would be walking through the door at any moment, but deep down they knew he wasn't going to be back.

Mystique was still silently letting tears fall just sitting there. She wished she didn't hurt so much. She didn't want to feel this pain. It was why she never opened herself up this was…Why a part of her had been against opening up to Jack. Just thinking that name only gave her a pain in her chest. She was so wrapped up in her own misery she didn't notice her kids open the door and look in.

When they saw the state of her room they were both worried about her. They went to her immediately as they sat down to face her.

"Mamma?" Rogue said gently worried about her. This shook her out of her state of mind as she looked up to see her worried children there. "Oh God, are ya all right?"

"Of course I'm not!" she snapped at them and they were taken a bit aback by this. She saw this and shut her eyes and dropped her head to her knees, "Oh god, I'm sorry Rogue…I…I didn't meant to…"

"Ve know," Kurt said softly and sat down next to her and pulled her into a hug. "Ve know you are hurting…Ve all are."

Rogue sat down on the other side doing the same as Kurt, "It's okay, we're here for ya. You don't have ta do this alone."

Mystique felt a lump in her throat. When she came here, she wanted to be here for her children. She had sat in on a few of the therapy sessions with them and tried to support them when they had to talk about what they had endured. She had been there for when either one had been hurting a bit more certain days then others. She had tried to become the mother she should have been and to comfort them. Yet here they were comforting her. And if she didn't feel like complete and utter shit, she would have laughed at the irony.

After a moment Kurt decided to talk, "He vas a god man mozher…I zhink he vas good for you…"

Rogue nodded her head, "Yeah…He was a great guy and…Ah know he made ya happy and I'm sure he wouldn't want to see ya lahke this."

The fact was Raven thought that her daughter was right about that. But she still couldn't let it go it was too soon. The pain of it all was just that she wasn't sure what she had with him. Were they friends with just benefits? Fuck buddies? Or could they have been more if given the time? She didn't know and now she'll never know. She would remember only one thing about him, the thing that had touched her the most out of everything. The sex didn't matter, the friendship didn't matter…For there was only one thing she truly would remember about him was the one thing that meant so much to her.

"He said…He once said that…I was beautiful. He said I was beautiful…HE SAID I WAS BEAUTIFUL!" she let her head fall as she cried. He had been the only man to have said as much to her in her true form the only man that had liked her in that form. And now she had lost him. She just sat there all night with her children to help support her throughout the night.

In Jamie's room he was on his bed too tired to really move. Then he heard his door open and close and someone walking towards him, "Jamie?" said a soft and familiar voice and saw Rahne there. She was in her usual sleepwear, green PJs that had a buttoned top and loose pants.

"Can't sleep?"

"Aye, I think nae anyone can tonight," she said her voice full of sorrow, "I was wonderin'…Could I stay here?"

Jamie's heart nearly jumped out his chest at that, but seeing her like this he only shifted a bit over signalling to he to join him. She crawled up into his bed and laid down with him and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt that he was a bit tense and so was she. Hell, if her mother could see her now she'd have a fit.

After a bit she just had to ask him since he had been pretty out of it after the fight so she had to ask him, "Are ye all right?"

"No…Not really," he sighed. "And it's not just…You know…" He still couldn't bare to say it either that Jack was dead. "But…You know how I absorb all the knowledge from my clones?"

"Yeah?" she wasn't sure where he was going with this.

"I remember every pain, every blow and…Every death…" he said and she looked at him shocked. "I died out there Rahne…I died so many times and I remember each dead…I can feel the claws tarring into me, the teeth biting me…" His voice was full of pain and she just hugged him close trying to comfort him.

He held her back as tears fell from his face. He never thought of what it was like to die but he knew now, He knew exactly what it was like to die and not only once either. It was a cruel world. It wasn't something people weren't meant to know and now Jamie knew all too well. It was a long time as they held each other before he could talk again but he knew that this was something he would live with for the rest of his life. At this moment he didn't feel so much like a child anymore.

"I can'nae imagine what ye are feeling," she gently told him stroking his face feeling the tears on his cheeks in the dark, "I wish I could make it go away."

He smiled a little and wished the light was a bit better to see those eyes he loved to look into, "I know, it's one of the reasons I care about you so much…You always try to make other feel better."

She smiled at him and figured it might be time to tell him, "Jamie…Ye know of me wolf side right?"

He knew how her mutation gave her wolf instincts at times, "Yeah."

"Well that side o' me had certain things that I feel. One of them is that I see the X-Men as me pack. Like they are me family."

"That's kind of a nice way to see things," he told her.

She smiled at that she was glad that he was never freaked out by her wolf side, "Well there is another thing. Ye see every female in a pack looks for their own…Alpha male as it were. And well…All me instincts tell me that you are that one for me."

Jamie thought about that for a moment, "You mean like a mate?"

She blushed in embarrassment, "Kind of."

"Well…I can live with that," he gently told her and gave a soft kiss on her lips before resting his head against hers. She sighed as she snuggled closer to him and knew that her instincts may be right about this. That she had chosen well but at the moment she just wanted to live in this moment and forget the past and the future. She just wanted to be a girl, in a bed with the boy she cared for being there for each other.

In Vince and Emma's room, the mood was just as sombre. Emma just watched her love as he delicately placed his sword on his resting place on the wall, but he held Slayer's sword as well. She watched him just look at it and she couldn't feel what he was feeling. He was blocking her out.

For Vince, he looked at the large weapon. 'Why? Why do people around me keep dying? First my mother, then the other children of Project Prodigy, then Father Michaels and now this…My friend died and despite all this power, I still failed.'

He felt like he wanted to smash something anything at the moment. He was so frustrated and in pain that he felt like he just wanted to scream his lungs out.

He had respected Jack, hell he had liked him. He was one of the few people that he could relate to. He remembered how they had invited him to the boys' poker night a few times and they all just talked, played cards, and just had a good time. He remembered the training and how fun it was to find someone that could force him to improve.

They even just hanged out a few times talking about nothing.

And now his friend was dead. He had all this damn power, he was most likely one of the most powerful mutants, and yet he still couldn't do anything. He couldn't save any of them. He was too weak as a child to save his mother getting murdered, to save the children like him, he just watched as the man who had raised him as a father had his throat cut open. He couldn't even save himself from being tortured by Selene.

All those sessions of pain and humiliation that he had endured, either passing out or the drugs she used on him causing adverse effects thanks to his messed up body chemistry. He hadn't been able to save Emma from that place, or stop Rogue's rape or Jean's memory being altered. For a man so powerful why was he so helpless to those around him?

Then he felt slender arms wrap around him and a body press up against his back and a head resting on his shoulder. He knew it was Emma and also that she was trying her best to help him. He had been keeping her out of his mind at the moment but he needed her now more then ever.

He slowly left down his defenses and Emma felt all the pain he was in at the moment. She hated having him in pain. He was a good man that had made her life better for it. Just as Jack had inadvertently given her the chance to have children and now thanks to him, they would have a family. She was thankful for meeting him and the X-Men. They gave her a new life to live…A new start.

Vince felt her emotions of comfort and love through their bond and it was unlike anything. Like being wrapped up in a blanket of warmth, it was indescribable what it was like being in a relationship with a telepath. He laid Slayer's sword gently against the wall as she led him to their bed. They just lay there letting each other comfort each other physically and emotionally. That was another thing about having a mental link, you didn't need words you just felt and the other person knew exactly what you were feeling with total understanding.

It was a level of intimacy that neither one ever expected to find but at the moment their bond of love would help them deal with this great loss.

In other parts of the mansion other couples were doing the same. Jean and Scott were in their room with the two of them coping. Scott felt responsible because he was the leader of the X-Men and he should have done something. He kept on replaying the battle over and over in his mind trying to find an answer to it all, but nothing came. Jean tried to help him but she too felt that loss, Slayer had saved her soul and it just felt like she should have done more to repay him for that.

Kitty was in Piotr's room seeing as how she couldn't sleep no matter how much she tried. Slayer's death and images of demons haunted her mind. She had found him away in his room sketching something, for it turned out he couldn't sleep either. So she stayed with him during the night, just laying there next to him watching him work, it was something to focus on for either of them since neither one wanted to sleep at the moment.

For the young girl known as X23, she didn't know what she felt. The mission was accomplished, but they had lost one of their own. She was familiar with death. She had seen it and even had a hand in it back in Hydra but this…This was totally different. She couldn't understand why SHE hurt. Her body was fine now nearly fully healed but she felt like something was missing inside of her, like there was a gap and it hurt her.

She went to the gym and just started to punch the punching bag. She was still tired but she was angry and wanted to hurt something…Anything. She just kept on punching it not letting up and growling with each one. She wore no gloves and just kept on hitting the rough surface, a part of her mind felt the pain in her knuckles and hands but it didn't hurt as much as she did inside. She just kept on punching memories of Jack kept on showing up in her mind. She didn't feel the tears on her cheeks, but she did notice her vision was blurred but didn't know why.

She just kept on hitting it, over and over. She didn't even notice when the skin on her knuckles cut open or when her blood was starting to stain the bag she just kept on hitting it harder and harder. She didn't want to feel this way. She wanted things back to the way they were…She wanted to be happy again with Logan and Ororo, with the others and with Jack. She wanted him back.

Logan came in looking for her and saw what she was doing, he ran over to her and held her.

"Kid, Kid! Settle down!" She began struggling and roaring out in pain and anguish. After she eventually calmed down she just broke down sobbing. He turned her around and held her to his chest as he rubbed the back of her head.

"I know darling, I know. We all miss him," he said gently to her as she clutched his clothing tightly.

"W-why? Why…Did he have to die? W-why…Do I feel…Like this?" Her words were broken up from the strain in her voice as she tried to get it through the sobs.

He sighed as he just held her, this little girl who could take out a platoon of soldiers at one moment, but then again she was just this scared little girl that just wanted to be held.

"I don't know darling I wish he didn't have to, but he sacrificed himself for us…He sacrificed himself for all of us and the world. As for why you feel this way…Well, when we lose someone that we cared for it hurts, you hurt because Jack meant a lot to you. He was a good part of your life and that's how you know how much he meant to you. I know it hurts now, but it will get better in time."

She closed her eyes letting her father hold her. She never wanted to lose another person again, this hurt just too much that she didn't think she could survive another moment like this.

"Come on…Let's go find Ro okay?" he told her knowing that she would most likely want company as well. Laura only nodded and went with him. When they got to the upper levels they could hear the light rain falling at the moment. When they got to her room they saw her there sitting on her bed. When they saw her face they saw the tears on her cheeks and Logan knew the weather was reflecting her emotions.

Sometimes when she cried, it rained like this, like back when Evan left. Laura saw the woman that she was coming to see as like a mother and just sat down and hugged her. Hugging had a strange effect on her to make her feel better so she would do the same for Ororo. She gave a weak smile and hugged the young girl back. She felt Logan sitting on the other side as he hugged her as well.

Strangely, it was moments like this in the light of tragedy when the bonds of family were truly tested. They all may not have been a typical family, but in that moment they were just as close as any family in the world if not more so.

-Four Days Later-

The past few days hadn't been easy on the mutants. The mood was pretty solemn throughout the mansion as the death of someone close to them sunk in fully. Everyone pitched in the help each other deal in some way. Some were still healing up but they still helped in some aspect. The X-Men had always been like a large family as times, but it was even more so now as they all pulled together.

But now everyone was gathered out in the back of the Institute. It was a beautiful day weather wise, but emotionally it was the exact opposite. Everyone there was dressed in black as they paid their final respects to one of their own. A small area had been set aside where a monument could be built for Jack Robinson. They had wasted no time in building it and within two days, it had been finished.

It was a circular cement circle on the ground not too far from the Mansion near the cliffs. The circle was a few meters in diameter and raised about a coupled of inches from the ground. In the center was a square shaped stone block and up on it was a large rectangular stone with an inscription on it.

This stands for the memory of Jack "Slayer" Robinson

His sacrifice will never be forgotten

He stood for Honour and his legacy will live on forever

May his soul finally be at peace

Warrior, Champion, and X-Man

"You have the power. It's just a matter of how you use it."

Everyone was in some type black clothing. They had spent a few of the days trying to find decent clothing to wear to something like this. Even Emma bought a new black Sunday dress for this, although she wasn't sure if she would ware this again she would even if it was just for this one time. Even though there was no body, they all felt that Jack deserved to have some kind of memorial to him. He had done so much and it was only fitting that at least some people would remember him.

Xavier looked at the long faces, seeing a few tears as others were doing their best to put on a brave face. They were all sitting in chairs at the moment. Some were still getting over injuries from the battle as he was up front of everyone. He took a moment to gather for himself the sheer volume of sadness and depression had been hard on him the past few days and it didn't do all that well for his own. He still felt like he should have worked harder to uncover the secrets of the book to have prevented Selene from opening that Gate in the first place.

He sighed to himself, seeing everyone like this. There was Logan sitting with Ororo and Laura, all the couples together, he even saw Mystique there with her children sitting next to her. She didn't look that good at the moment and he noticed she was holding both her children's hands. He wondered what her future would be now.

"We are all gathered here to give our final respects and honour to Jack Robinson. He came to us from the shadows, and was a total mystery to us. But as he joined us, he slowly became not only a part of our lives…But a part of our hearts. He formed friendships here, his advice helped some of us in our darkest hours, and his actions made an impact on all out lives…Some more then others."

Laura remembered the talks they had had, as well as Amara like when she had told him all about her troubles with Tabitha and Sam. Vincent and Emma held each other's hand a little bit tighter knowing that they had a chance at a family now thanks to him. Scott remembered how he had help to get that demon out of Jean. Jean herself was wearing the phoenix pendant on her black dress in honour of Jack.

For Mystique, she remembered how kind he was to her. He had been the kindest person to her that she could remember other then Irene. She remember how they had shared not only a bed, but each other's lives and even pains sometimes as they would talk afterward. She wondered if she would ever find a man like him again, someone to help fill the hole in her heart like he had. But as she felt the hands of her children in hers, for the first time she didn't feel totally alone in the world anymore.

Xavier went on, "As he opened up to us we learned of his life and his hardships. Some of you found that you could relate to him, others felt for his pain, and I don't think any of us will forget what we learned. But despite all of the hardships he faced, the loneliness and pain he had endured throughout his life, he chose to use his abilities to help the world and not for personal gain, fame, power, or any other reason then it was the right thing for him to do. Because it was what his code of honour stated…And I think we can all admire that trait in him and try to strive to be as strong and as diligent as he had been. I hope we all have learned something from his time with us. I hope that each of us takes something we learned from him and hold it within our hearts for the rest of our lives. So that in some small way, a part of him will live on in each of us as long as we keep that alive within us."

Everyone was thinking back on their time with Jack and everyone had special memories of him that they would cherish. Xavier himself would remember the young man for years to come who had helped them so much. He only wished that he could have done something to have eased his pain in life, but he hoped that his time with them had been a happy time. That in some way he had gained some happiness in life before his end.

"Now we will commend something of his to eternal rest…To make remind all those who come here what he meant to us and so that we may show it to our children and tell them of Jack Robinson. So that his name will live on in the generations to come so that he is never forgotten."

Xavier moved away from the monument to allow Vincent room for what he was going to do.

It was then that Vincent stood up, and picked up something that had been in his lap. He walked over to the monument for Jack. He unfolded the red cloth, revealing Jack's sword. And as he took the blade in his hands, he walked to a large rectangular piece of it and drew the sword high in the air. And with one powerful motion, he slammed the blade into the stone with his super strength and the sharpness of the blade easily made it go into it. The blade was nearly totally in the stone now, the pummel and handle sticking straight up with about five inches of the blade showing from the stone turning the sword into part of the monument to Jack as well.

No one felt right about using the sword or keeping it, but this way they had found that it would forever be a reminder of him and so that a piece of him would always be looking over them. Vince bowed his head to it in honour of his fallen comrade and friend, "Goodbye buddy…I hope you're finally happy…Wherever you are…"

An Unknown Void

In a vast, empty void of infinite nothingness, the tired, distraught, disembodied spirit of Jack Robinson drew aimlessly through the emptiness…Feeling so lost, so desolate, so utterly aimless in the bleak path before him. He had walked this road before…He had been in the clutches of death once already…So he was neither scared, nor joyous that he was going this route again.

He felt so weak…So exhausted…So utterly tired that he felt as though every last piece of his being was about to fall apart. He didn't quite know if he was going to heaven, hell, or somewhere in between. Either way, it didn't matter to him. He had done his duty…He had saved his friends and his world. But where did that leave him now? What was going to happen to the shattered pieces of his spirit?

Then, out of the void…A beautiful, heavenly voice lifted the wounded warrior from his distraught state of being.

"Jack…Jack…It's okay, my love."

Even in a state of unending emptiness and desolation, that voice was enough to pull the spirit of the young man back into a world shock. He knew that voice…He knew it all too well. It was beautiful, heavenly, and so deeply soothing that no words could accurately describe how it touched his fragile soul. Only one voice could ever sound so heavenly…Only one voice could ever be so beautiful that it could lift the heart of a wayward spirit. It was her…The woman of his dreams.

"Layla…" he said, feeling so weak that he could barely talk.

"Jack…Come to me, Jack. It's okay…You're journey is finally over."

Then, right before his bleary eyes, a beautiful tunnel of light opened before him and his soul was plunged into the gentle, yet soothing ambience. It was as if somebody had taken his hand and pulled him into this vast pool of joy and happiness. And as he felt himself ascend through this tunnel, all his sorrow, pain, and loss seemed to melt away…Forever left behind, never to torment him again. It was so beautiful…So wonderful. He could see it…He could see everything. All the memories of his life from beginning to end, from sorrow to joy, flashed right before his eyes.

He could see his friends back at the institute…He could see that they were all alive and well. He could see that they were morning him, yet at the same time, they were honoring him as well. The world he had left behind had been spared…The darkness, subdued. And all the desolation, pain, and anguish that had weighed so deeply upon his soul was finally filled with the euphoria of peace.

Finally, as the light began to fade and his surroundings clarified, Jack found himself at the top of the vast steps of the place where his journey had truly began…The Temple of Great Warriors. His spirit was still weak, tired, and lost…But as he gazed outward over the vast fields of beauty and serenity, a smile fell upon his face…For it seemed as though every warrior, every fighter, every champion of light that had followed the path of honor was there to welcome him back to the place where he had taken on his duty. And after so much struggle and strife, he had finally seen it through.

He could see warriors of all different types…From great champions of the ancient world to the modern heroes that bore their hearts and souls for their honor. He even saw a vast array of warriors that didn't even look completely human…Most likely alien warriors or warriors from a different realm who fought with the same underlying principles that united them all. He even saw his parents…The mother and father he never got a chance to know. It filled him with great joy as he saw the happy and proud expressions on their faces along with those of the countless beings that had joined them here for this profound moment.

"Jack…It's okay. You're home now…"

Finally finding the strength to raise his tired being, Jack looked up and gasped at what he saw.

"Oh God…Layla."

He couldn't believe it…There she was, standing there before him looking every bit as beautiful as he remembered. She had grown since the last time he had seen her…She looked to be about his age now. And it made her all the more breath taking as he gazed lovingly into those deep, wondrous eyes that seemed to wash away all the unending pain that had plagued his life.

She was smiling warmly at him…Gently taking his hand and giving him the strength he needed to rise up and stand before all those who had come to greet their champion. There were tears streaming down his face as he reached out and touched her angelic face. It was so warm…So beautiful…So calming that it lifted his wounded soul from the depths of emptiness and loss and replaced it with joy and happiness.

"Layla…It…Is it really you? Is…Is this just another dream? Another vision?" he said in a weak tone as he clung to the beautiful woman that he thought he had lost.

"No Jack…" came a voice from off to the side, "This is no dream…This is real."

"Yoshinto…" gasped Jack as he saw the proud immortal standing there before him.

There was a look of great delight on his holy expression as he gazed at his mortal embodiment. Taking a step towards the tired and distraught soul before him, he simply smiled as he respectfully bowed to the young man who had saved them all.

"You have slain the ultimate evil…You have once again balanced out the forces of darkness and light. As the living embodiment of my immortal spirit…You have done your legacy proud, my boy. You made the ultimate sacrifice…You gave your life for your honor. And for that, I along with every other follower of Bushido…Bow to you."

Then, as he clung to Layla, he watched as the immortal entity known as Yoshinto along with the countless warriors that were watching him from far and wide bowed in his honor. Everybody…No matter who they were, what they were, or where they came from…Bowed to honor this great champion who had done so much to uphold the principles of a warrior. Even his parents along with little Eric, who was standing right beside them, showed their respect and their love for the tortured young man who was finally free of his pain.

"Wow…I…I'm honored," said Jack, too choked up for words as he looked back over the vast fields of spirits and beings with unparalleled joy and happiness.

Turning back to Layla, he couldn't contain his euphoria any longer. He was home…Here in the arms of family, friends, and fellow warriors alike. And, of course, he had at his side the most beautiful creature in both Earth and Heaven at his side. And as if to mark this joyous moment once and for all, he finally found himself doing something that he should have done long ago.

"Layla…I'm home…I'm finally home."

And in one, smooth motion…He captured the lips of the angel that he held so lovingly in his arms. It was a kiss that resonated throughout both Heaven and Earth…A kiss that united two wayward souls that had suffered long enough. And once again, they were together…For ever bound by the eternal love that transcended life and death itself. And such a beautiful display caused every spirit and loved one present to break out into applause, for at long last…Jack Robinson could finally be at peace.

Songs and chants could be heard in the distance, cries of joy and happiness echoed all throughout the heavenly surroundings, and even the immortal spirit of Yoshinto smiled warmly at his mortal vessels new and everlasting peace. For at long last…He could finally find true happiness.

"Layla…You…You're not going to leave me again, are you?" said Jack as the kiss ended, still worried that this was just some wonderful dream.

Layla just smiled warmly at the tormented man before her, gently holding him in her warm embrace. From behind her he saw her brother there also older and looking in good health. He saw a man there with him and a woman that looked part European and part Japanese there as well. He knew who they were, they were his parents. He had seen them a few times with his All Seeing Eye and now he could finally meet them.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jack. This time…We have all of eternity right here in heaven. You gave your life to save us all…And now, your suffering is finally over."

Jack felt like breaking down right then and there. He just couldn't believe it…He was so happy. He was finally home. His duty, his honor, and his heart had all been faithfully upheld…And now, at long last, he could finally be at peace.

"Oh Layla…I love you so much."

"I love you too, Jack…" said the beautiful angel, smiling warmly at the man whose heart was forever entwined with hers.

He had saved the world…He had given his life for his honor. He was proud, strong, and forever untied in his undying honor now and forever. He was a fighter…He was a champion…He was a warrior. And now that he had upheld his legacy, his honor, and his duty…It was time for the brave young soul to finally pass into the realm of eternity.

"It's over…" said Jack as he embraced the woman he loved, never wanting to let go again, "At long last…I can finally…Rest in peace."

NEXT UP CHAPTER 79: PLANS FOR THE FUTURE