Inferno

Chapter 3: Hunger

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- I don't own anything, all familiar characters belong to Marvel.

Shout Outs-

GothikStrawberry- Don't worry, Rachel will face the Brotherhood soon enough…

Demonestress- If you mean all the stuff with the Brotherhood then… no.

Slickboy444- More wackiness from Bobby soon. This fic is a little light on the Jean/Scot bashing. If you've read my other stuff (mostly Diamonds are a Fuzzy Dude's Best Friend) then you'll see what I mean.

Wen1- I'm glad you like this, I may not be a big Jott fan but I'm trying something different in this fic.

Ruby631- Sorry, no plans for August. I'm going to keep this as canon as possible.

Agent-G- Yup, Rachel did indeed tangle with Selene upon reaching our time. I believe it was in The Uncanny X-Men 184. I might have Rachel meet Jean's parents; you can just imagine the expression on their faces. Heh.

Thanks to- Lil Jean and unknown legacy.

Bayville Mall-

As promised, Kitty and Rachel were doing a spot of shopping in the mall. They had also press-ganged Kurt and Piotr into carrying their bags.

'Not that I do not enjoy spending time with you Katya.' Piotr said. 'But, do you really need so many clothes?'

'Now Peter mein fruend, you must learn one zhing about American vomen, and vomen in general.' Kurt replied. 'Zey can never have too many clothes.'

'You haven't got to the best part yet.' Kitty snickered. 'You have to help us choose some shoes.'

'Mein Gott!' Kurt groaned. 'Anyzhing but ze shoes! Send me on a mission against Magneto, anyzhing but zhat!'

'Now you're just like, abusing sarcasm!' Kitty sighed.

Kitty then noticed that something seemed to be up with Rachel.

'You alright, Ray?' Kitty asked.

'I'm not sure, Kit.' Rachel replied. 'My Spider-Sense is tingling. I can't quite pinpoint it but something seems off.'

'I don't know vhy you're zo jumpy, Rachel.' Kurt said. 'Zhere's nuzzing weird going on except zhat leather-clad Goth woman standing by ze food court.'

Rachel looked at the Goth woman that Kurt indicated. She could sense something unusual from the woman. It was something… evil.

'Everybody down!' Rachel commanded.

The others did as they were told a fireball was sent their way, sending shoppers screaming out of the mall.

'Vhat ze Hell vas zhat?' Kurt coughed as he dusted himself off.

'It's that woman.' Kitty replied. 'She just tried to fry us.'

'Then we shall have to teach her not to mess with the X-Men, correct?' Piotr asked.

'Be my guest Petey.' Kitty replied.

Piotr's clothes tore as he changed to his organic steel form and charged at the woman. Unfortunately, the woman waved her hand and the floor beneath the Russian mutant's feet began to warp and bend, holding him in place.

'It has been such a long time since I have last met a worth opponent in battle.' Selene said. 'Your death will be a quick one.'

'I'm afraid he's spoken for.' Kurt replied as he teleported over to Selene. 'I doubt that Kitty vill appreciate you killing her boyfriend.'

'Hmm, a teleporter, eh?' Selene said. 'Such a handsome one too.'

Selene shrugged off Kurt's blows and threw him against a vacant hotdog stand, spilling the contents everywhere.

'You'll pay for that you witch!' Kitty hissed. 'Nobody hurts my friends!'

Unfortunately, Selene threw Kitty through the air before she could even lay a finger on the immortal sorceress.

''You're the only oen left, Ms Summers.' Selene sneered. 'Join me or end up like your friends.'

'I'll never join you, you witch!' Rachel yelled. 'I'm gonna take you down, even if it means doing it on my own!'

'So be it.' Selene sighed. 'Your soul will hopefully be an appetising one.'

Rachel's eyes glowed yellow as she used her powers to create a circle of flame around the sorceress.

'Bah! Your powers are useless against one that can wield and manipulate fire!' Selene chuckled.

Much to Rachel's amazement, Selene turned the fire back towards her. Fortunately, she got up a telekinetic field before she was burnt to a crisp.

'Do not even think for a moment that your powers will save you, Rachel.' Selene sneered. 'They are useless compared to one that has total control over the very floor of this shopping establishment!'

The evil grin on Selene's face grew even bigger as the floor around Rachel seemed to come alive and wrap itself around her telekinetic bubble.

Rachel only had one chance to escape; she had to call Professor Xavier!

'Professor, please, you have to help us!' Rachel called telepathically. 'We're getting out butts kicked by some freaky Goth woman in the mall! Please, you have you help!'

No sooner had Rachel called out then Xavier's astral form appeared in the battlefield.

'Ah, the infamous Professor Charles Xavier.' Selene chuckled. 'How wonderful of you to finally join us. Now you can witness the deaths of your precious students firsthand!'

'You will do no such thing, witch.' Xavier replied. 'Leave them be or suffer the consequences.'

'You presume too much.' Selene snorted. 'I am immortal! Nothing can harm me!'

Selene reached over to the barely-conscious Rachel and grabbed her by the neck.

'Now, witness my power!'

Rachel gave out a strangled scream as Selene began to drain the life out of her.

'Professor please… help…' Rachel pleaded weakly.

'Selene, stop this madness!' Xavier yelled as he struck the sorceress with a psychic bolt.

Selene let out a shocked gasp as the mental attack forced her to lose her grip on Rachel.

'Curse you Xavier!' Selene hissed. 'You may have won today but I will be back. You will rue the day you crossed the immortal Selene!'

'No! You will not get away with this!' Piotr yelled as he broke free of the floor and charged at the sorceress. But he was too late; Selene disappeared in a burst of flame.

'Rachel, are you alright?' Xavier asked.

'Li'l bit weak.' Rachel groaned as Piotr helped her up. 'Nothing a nice lie down won't cure.'

'Do you think that we'll see that woman again?' Kitty asked as she got up from the floor. 'Cuz I hope not, she's freaky.'

'You have mastered ze art of understatement once again, Katzchen.' Kurt groaned as he brushed raw hotdogs from his fur. 'I doubt zhat all of ze X-Men vill be able to defeat her next time.'

'I guess that means that we're like, in for a major Danger Room session, huh?' Kitty sighed. 'A perfect end to a perfect day.'

'We will defeat that… woman the next time we meet, Katya.' Piotr replied solemnly. 'You have my word on it.'

Once he was sure that the quartet of mutants were okay, Xavier's astral form disappeared and everybody made their way home.

'Are you sure you're okay to stand, Rachel?' Kurt asked as he helped the redhead to her feet.

'Yeah, I'm fine thanks, Fuzzy.' Rachel replied. 'I can already feel my life force start to come back.'

Kitty then turned to Rachel with a curious expression on her face.

'So you say that in your time Piotr and me are like, married. Do we have any kids or anything?'

'Do you mind if we keep the questions until we get back, Kit?' Rachel replied. 'I'm still a little bit woozy and I think you're embarrassing Peter.'

Despite the nasty battle they just had, Kitty giggled at the embarrassed look upon the Russian's face.

'Yeah, I can like, see what you mean.' Kitty giggled. 'C'mon guys, let's get out of here before we get arrested or something.'

'Ze best idea I've heard all day.' Kurt grinned.

TBC…

Next: Phoenix

During a routine Danger Room session, the X-Men find out just how powerful Rachel is and what the Phoenix Force is all about.