Inferno

Chapter 14: Rise of the Juggernaut- Part 2

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel.

R-Man's Random Fact- Colossus has a son named Peter in the Savage Land, but he doesn't know it, despite hints from the boy's mother, Nereel.

Bayville Mall-

It was a tense moment outside Bayville Mall. The X-Men had been sent there after Professor Xavier had sensed that the Juggernaut was on a rampage.

'You shall not place one finger on my sister, Juggernaut!' Piotr growled, moving to protect Illyana.

'Piotr...' Illyana hissed. 'I can handle myself.'

'I am sorry, Illyana...' Piotr shook his head. 'But this man is dangerous. I cannot have you endangering your life in battle.'

'Aww, screw all this bellyachin'.' Juggernaut sneered. 'I wuz sent here to do a job, and that's what I'm gonna do, X-Men, or no X-Men!'

Scott instantly dropped into leader mode.

'X-Men, fan out! Let's take the Juggernaut down!'

'What about the demons, Scott?' Bobby reminded the fearless leader as he encased one of the winged beasts in a block of ice. 'Let's not forget about the demons!'

'We could like, really do with Dr Strange's help right about now!' Kitty added as she phased through another winged demon that tried to grab her in its talons.

'The Professor already tried ta call him, Kit.' Rogue replied as she grabbed one of the demon's by the wings and smashed it into a nearby car. 'He wasn't there. Ah guess he was on a house call.'

Nearby, Piotr was still matching his strength with that of the Juggernaut.

'Heh. You're strong, kid.' Juggernaut smirked as he tried to force the Russian mutant backwards, but found Piotr to be just as unstoppable as he was. 'But are ya strong enough to take me on?'

'There is only one way to find out.' Piotr grunted under the strain as he also tried to force Juggernaut back. 'I would sooner die than let you harm my Little Snowflake!'

There was a 'bamf' and a smell of brimstone as Kurt teleported onto Juggernaut's back.

'Zhat's it, Peter!' Kurt encouraged as he scrambled for one of the latches on the Juggernaut's helmet. 'Keep pouring it on! It von't be long until ve beat him now!'

'That's what you think, squirt!' Juggernaut sneered.

Before Kurt could even teleport away, Juggernaut smashed the poor fuzzy elf into a nearby wall.

'KURT!' Rachel screamed in horror. 'You'll pay for this, you monster!'

'Ooh, I'm quakin' in my boots.' Juggernaut snorted, not impressed in the least my the telepath's posturing. 'What could you possibly do to me? I'm the goddamn Juggernau...'

Juggernaut's taunts were cut short as Rachel sent him flying with a telekinetic wave. The Juggernaut was pushed with so much force that he was shoved straight through an old abandoned warehouse.

'Is that it?' Bobby frowned, slightly disappointed. 'Did we beat the Juggernaut?'

As if in answer to Bobby's question, Juggernaut smashed his way back out of the wrecked warehouse.

'Okay, that's it!' The unstoppable behemoth snarled. 'The kid gloves are comin' off!'

Juggernaut clapped his hands together, creating a powerful shockwave that knocked the X-Men off their feet, and shattered the windows for several blocks around them.

The Juggernaut dusted off his hands and surveyed the destruction he had wrought with a satisfied smirk.

'Heh. That wasn't so hard. And I thought the X-Men were supposed to be a load of badasses.

'I think yer fergettin' somethin', Juggs...' A voice growled.

Juggernaut spun around to see that Wolverine and X-23 were still standing.

'Spare me yer posturin', runt.' Juggernaut rolled his eyes. 'My business ain't with you. I only want the Russian kid. Then I'll leave ya in peace.'

'You won't take Illyana while I still have a breath in my body.' X-23 growled angrily. 'Now, leave before we have to hurt you.'

'If the entire X-Men can't even put a scratch on me, how could you two possibly do somethin'?' Juggernaut snorted. 'C'mon, kid, ya lost. Give up already.'

'The X-Men never give up, Juggernaut.' Scott coughed as he slowly got up to his feet. 'So don't get your hopes up about an easy win.'

'Like X said, Juggernaut...' Jean added as she got to her feet beside Scott. 'Give up now, before we have to hurt you.'

'Oh, I don't know, Jean.' Rachel replied. 'I'd rather like to hurt Juggernaut. Perhaps a lot.'

'It don't matter whether ya do it as a team, or ya do it alone...' Juggernaut sneered. 'Ya ain't got the power ta take me down!'

'But you haven't ever gone up against the one that wields the Soul Sword, have you?' Illyana asked as she twirled her sword in her hands. 'C'mon, Cain. Let's do it. Just me and you. One-on-one.'

Piotr moved in front of Illyana, barring her way.

'Illyana. You cannot...'

'Get out of my way, Piotr.' Illyana narrowed her eyes in determination. 'This is between me and the Juggernaut. I need you to trust me.'

Piotr's shoulders fell in defeat.

'I do not like it, Illyana.' Piotr sighed. 'It is too dangerous.'

'I'm a big girl now, Piotr.' Illyana stroked her brother's cheek in comfort. 'You have to let me fight my own battles.'

'De fille's right, mon ami.' Remy patted his friend on his shoulder. 'I don' like it either, but yo' gotta let her fight her own battles.'

'Very well.' Piotr conceded. 'We will be here if you need us, Little Snowflake.'

'Spaceeba.' (1) Illyana smiled gratefully. 'Now, what do you say, Juggernaut? Have you got the stones to take me on?'

'Oh, please.' Juggernaut scoffed in derision. 'It's barely gonna take me five seconds, kid. It almost ain't even worth it, but I accept yer challenge.'

'Glad to hear it.' Illyana nodded.

Then, with a blink of an eye, Illyana and the Juggernaut disappeared in a flash of flight, leaving the bewildered X-Men standing there.

'What de hell jus' happened dere?' Remy blinked in confusion.

'I think Illyana teleported herself and the Juggernaut away.' Scott surmised. 'So no innocent bystanders are hurt.'

Piotr let out a bellow of rage and punched a nearby car, nearly tearing it in half.

'Don't worry, Peter...' Kitty reassured him. 'I'm sure that Illyana like, knows what she's doing.'

'I just wish that I was there to help her, Katya.' Piotr sighed heavily. 'I do not know what I would do if my Little Snowflake is hurt.'

'I guess there's only one thing left for us to do.' Jean added. 'We have to gather back at the mansion. The Professor will be able to find Illyana with Cerebro. Then we will be able to help her.'

'But what about those demons and that spooky guy that was standing on top of that building?' Bobby asked.

'What demons and spooky guy, Ice Cube?' Logan asked, indicating the area around them.

The X-Men's faces fell in surprise. The demons, along with the mysterious shadowed man that had been watching the fight, had completely disappeared.

'There is something sinister going on here.' Rachel frowned to herself. 'I can feel it.'

TBC...

Next: Rise of the Juggernaut- Part 3

Illyana and the Juggernaut go at it one-on-one. Who will be the victor? Will the Juggernaut prove to be totally unstoppable, or will Illyana prove to be the true mistress of the Soul Sword? Tune in next time to find out...

Author's Notes-

(1)- 'Spaceeba' is Russian for 'thank you'.