XXXXXXXXXXXX
Sebastian Shaw had finally arrived at the club. He immediately went up to Xavier and shook his hand.
"Professor, I'm sorry I'm late. Last minute meeting."
"It's no problem. I understand you're a busy man."
Shaw then eyed the cameras.
"Well then, let's get to the main event."
He then stepped up onto the stage with microphone in hand and got the attention of everyone in the club.
"Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention please?"
Everyone turned their attention to Shaw.
"As you all you, The Hellfire Club is a great many things; A gentleman's retreat, a place where business may be conducted, and a home to the finest parties known to civilized man. But it also boasts a proud background of charitable donations and unflinching support for some of the most influential figures in world history. Tonight we are gathered here for two reasons. One, I will reveal to you my pick for Vice President of the United States. A secondly we came here tonight to honor the work done by Professor Charles Xavier. Where in a quaint little school in Westchester, New York, he has been helping mutants for the majority of his adult life."
Everyone began clapping as Shaw motioned for Xavier to join him on stage.
"Professor, if you would, give us a few words."
Xavier nodded as Shaw handed him the microphone. Shaw stepped aside as the other mutant walked to the center and began speaking.
"For years, mutants have been regarded with fear, suspicion, even hatred. Both sides were being driven into a conflict which I feared may one day come to pass as all out war. But I believed that war could be avoided through education and cooperation. This is the principal which I founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
Xavier then gazed into one of the cameras. It was late, so most of the school had probably turned in and weren't watching.
"It was a safe haven for those who are different. They were taught to control their abilities and be responsible with them. Our journey has a been a long and difficult one. There were some moments, during some of our darkest times that made me question if it was all worth it. But now, after seeing President McKenna form a mutant's division during his administration, and the late Henry McCoy, one of my first students, becoming a member of his cabinet..."
He then glanced over at Sebastian.
"To now seeing a mutant one step away from becoming President of the United States. It makes it all seem worth it."
Shaw smiled as he took back the microphone.
"Couldn't have said it better. Now for the other reason, take it away Donald."
Donald Pierce stepped up to the stage as the people began clapping. Pierce smiled as he then stripped off his one glove to reveal a robotic hand. Xavier's brows furrowed with surprise for a moment before Pierce suddenly spun around and grabbed Xavier's head. Xavier cried out as he immediately fell to his knees. Pierce began squeezing at the Professor's temples with the robot hand as Shaw smirked.
"Don't worry about the cameras, Professor. Their empty. None of this is being broadcast anywhere. Nobody even knows you're here."
Once Xavier passed out, Shaw then yelled out to his son;
"Shinobi!"
Shinobi passed through the crowd who looked on as if what had just occurred was no big deal.
"Okay, I want him restrained and taken down to the temple. Don't put him in the pentagram, of course. The pentagram is just for the Inner Circle."
Down below the Hellfire Club was a temple. In the center of it was a large pentagram with odd looking symbols that went all around it. A small flame also wrapped around the circle but in the middle of the circle was the shape of giant phoenix. Xavier groaned as he opened his eyes and found himself strapped to some kind of chair.
He looked around and saw ten people standing inside of the circle, each dressed in some kind of old Victorian style clothes.
"Ah, the Kraken awakes. I thought you were never going to join us, Charles. Don't even think about trying to use your powers." Sebastian pushed his hair back to show a chip that had been implanted in him as had all the members of the Inner Circle. "That's why you didn't suspect a thing."
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," Shinobi spoke. "Shinobi Shaw, The White King."
They each went around the circle. A heavy set man with a full light brown beard and wearing a blue vest;
"Henry Leland. The Black Bishop."
"Donald Pierce, The White Bishop."
Xavier's eyes moved to the next man, dressed in all brown Victorian style garb.
"Emmanuel Da Costa, The White Rook."
The first woman, dressed in nothing but dark bluish-black lingerie, long boots, and a cape.
"Madelyne Pryor," She smirked. "The Black Rook."
"Trevor Fitzroy," the man's hair was dyed an odd light green color. "The White Knight."
"Fedrick Van Roehem," another heavy set man, only with dark hair and mustache. "The Black Knight."
"Selene Shaw," the woman was wearing jet-black lingerie as she moved closer to Shinobi. "The Black Queen."
Xavier's eyes then went to the last person. Sebastian was smirking at him.
"And I, The Black King. That's all of us, Charles. All except for our White Queen. She is currently at your precious school." Xavier narrowed his eyes as the other man continued. "And by this time, your darling Jean Grey probably isn't feeling quite like herself. I won't permit you to interfere with her destiny."
"What are you talking about, Shaw? What destiny?"
"We are going to replace your god with our own, Charles. After twenty-billion years in this many-angled prison, the time has come for the Phoenix God to rise again and usher in a darkness stretching into eternity."
At this, Xavier couldn't help but start to laugh. Shaw glared at him.
"What? What's so funny?"
"You, Shaw. All of this, all this ridiculous nonsense. Jean Grey is no god. She is merely a young mutant woman who is trying to control her newfound gifts. Your delusions are absolutely outstanding."
"You believe whatever makes you comfortable, Professor. I'm happy to adhere to the prophecies of a thousand generations who have worshipped this age-old force and drawn their earthly power from it. Our faith stretches back through the founding fathers and the revolutionary France to the bloodlines of ancient Egypt. Ours are the principles America was built upon, the sacred geometry and architecture at the heart of this great nation. That isn't an eagle weaved into the fabric of the oval office floor you know, what you pay homage to when you address a President is fine, full feathered Phoenix."
"Rubbish."
"Like I said, it doesn't really matter what you think, Charles. We only used you to help Jean accept what's coming without degenerating into a useless, gibbering mess."
"And just how do you plan on doing that?"
Just then the sound of a large door being opened and the closing shut echoed throughout the room. Footsteps were heard coming down the steps as
Sebastian smirked.
"I almost forget, we do have another member of our Inner Circle here with us tonight. May I present to you, The Grey King of the Hellfire Club."
A man stepped out from the shadows an into the circle. He was wearing an all grey robe and hood. Xavier watched as he slowly took the hood down. Standing before him, wearing his brand new silver and black helmet-
"Erik," Xavier breathed.
Magneto smirked.
"You were right, Charles. This one is special."
Xavier just continued to stare at the other man.
"How nice to see you, old friend," Magneto continued. "And walking again. Quite a sight to see."
"What's going on here, Erik?" Xavier asked. "What do you want with Jean?"
Before he could answer, the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club began to chant;
"By the fire within my heart, I call forth O' sacred flame! Within, without, you both are one from first creations light you come! Ancient sister of stars, daughter of the moon and sun, come forth in mystic golden light! I greet the south whence you come!"
The flames that surrounded the pentagram they stood inside began to rise higher.
"From the core of Earth's bright center, through the cosmos's vast expanses, we call forth, O cleansing fire, I call ye forth to lift and raise us!"
The fire's tendrils rose higher.
"Arise bright fire into the world! Arise bright fire into the night! Arise bright fire by spirit's hand! Arise bright fire of the Phoenix light!"
The fire twisted and formed into the shape of a Phoenix.
"My god," Xavier breathed as he looked on. Magneto too looked slightly in awe before using his powers to levitate the chair Xavier was tied to into a separate room in the temple. Once he was settled, Magneto spoke;
"I'm sorry about Henry. He was a good man."
Xavier didn't respond as his eyes lowered to the ground. Hank McCoy's death was still a touchy subject for him.
"I watched his funeral, from afar," Magneto revealed. "Imagine my surprise when I saw Jean Grey there, after being told that she died saving you all at Alkali Lake. She has become something that you and I have never seen before Charles."
"Yes. And it's because of you that it happened."
Magneto cocked his head.
"What does that mean?"
"Your machine, from Liberty Island," Xavier clarified. "It caused the advancement in her abilities."
"You can't prove that."
"Perhaps it's only a coincidence that her mutation became so much stronger after being hit by the machines radiation."
"Have your forgotten the psychic barriers you placed in her mind, Charles? I imagine you never did tell Jean about what you did." Magneto snapped. "Sometimes barriers break and nature finds its way out. So maybe you are the one who is responsible."
"I did what I thought was best for Jean." Xavier responded as he narrowed his eyes. "She was far too young to able to handle that kind of power. You know that."
"You never did give her enough credit. She was far more capable than you assumed."
"She meant more to me than her potential."
"And you think I didn't want what was best for her?" Magneto asked. "How can you know that allowing her powers full manifestation wasn't it?"
Xavier took a deep breath.
"It's easy for you to believe so strongly that you were right, Erik. You're not the one who had to make the decision." The two of them were silent for a few moments before Xavier spoke up again. "I don't know what you've been up to, but maybe you haven't seen that things are better. The world is better."
"Just because there isn't a war doesn't mean there is peace."
"Nothing with ever satisfy you, Erik." Xavier said as he shook his head.
"You must be following the current Presidential race." Magneto responded. "What do you think Graydon Creed will do if he's elected?"
"We will deal with it. We've come too far to turn back now. Now is the time to keep pushing forward."
"The fact that he has so much support is proof that things are not better, Charles. Every accomplishment Henry worked so hard to achieve will be done away with if Creed wins."
"So, you intend to use Jean as a weapon to fight your war?"
"No. I intend for Jean to fight with us. To be what she is...the next stage of evolution."
"Brother Erik."
Magneto turned his head to see Pierce standing by the doorway.
"You are needed by Brother Sebastian."
Nodding, Magneto looked at Xavier one last time before placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Charles. But your way doesn't work. This is what needs to be done."
XXXXXXXXX
The following morning, Jean was sitting on the edge of the bed rubbing her forehead when Kitty suddenly appeared in her doorway.
"Jean?"
Jean's eyes flashed orange for a split second before she turned her head to the young girl.
"Are you okay?" Kitty then asked as she walked further into the room.
"I don't know," Jean responded, honestly. "I just feel...off. Emotionally, I mean. I feel all over the place."
Kitty patted her arm, sympathetically.
"That time of the month, hun?"
Jean gave her a look.
"No. It's not that."
"Anyway," Kitty then changed the subject to what she really came to Jean for. "I just finished talking to Mr. Worthington. Warren is home now. If we hurry we can catch him." Kitty said
Jean took a breath as she got to her feet.
"Okay, let's go."
"I'll drive."
Kitty turned to head out but Jean took a hold of her wrist.
"Kitty, we aren't going to need a car."
Before Kitty could respond, a glowing light then wrapped around them both and in a flash they disappeared, teleporting to their desired location. Inside of his father's penthouse, Warren Worthington III had a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand as he sat on the edge of the bed. Warren looked bad as his hair was messy and his eyes looked blood-shot. He took a drink from the bottle when he suddenly looked over to see Kitty standing at the entrance of his open door. The lack of reaction he had scared the young girl.
"Kitty?" He slurred. "How did you get in here?"
"Really?"
Warren smirked.
"Oh yeah, I forgot."
Kitty walked further into the bedroom. She then glanced at the bottom of alcohol in his hand.
"A little early to start drinking, don't you think?"
"It's not like I have anything better to do. What are you doing here?"
"Your father and I have been talking. He's really worried about you."
Warren scoffed.
"Yeah, he's worried about me, he cares about me. First he wanted to cure me and now he's selling the company."
"What?"
"Yeah, he's letting Trask Enterprises buy us out."
"Warren, I want to bring you back to the mansion."
"I can't go back, I'm no longer a mutant." He then let the bottle drop to the floor as he stood up and removed his shirt. He turned around so Kitty could see the scars on his back, the marks where his wings once had been. "My wings made me special. Now who am I? I'm just some normal nobody."
"I can help you. Well, I brought someone who can help you."
As Kitty continued talking with Warren, Jean was waiting out in the living room. She turned her attention to the flat-screen television mounted on the wall and used her power to turn it on. She flipped through the channels until coming to an interview a reporter was having with Graydon Creed.
"President McKenna is a good man." Graydon stated. "However, as far as the issue of mutants goes, this is a subject where he and I differ. The mutant problem is not something that should be brushed off, it should be taken care of in order to protect our society."
"Secretary Creed, do you consider yourself a racist?" The reporter asked.
"No. I'm an envisionist. I envision a future without this mutant problem."
"Some have said that President McKenna's actions may have prevented a civil war. Along with the help of Henry McCoy-"
"Henry McCoy was a fraud, he helped cover up the actions of dangerous mutants out there. The day he died was a great day for this country."
Jean's eyes suddenly flared with anger as she caused the television to explode and burst into flames. Warren and Kitty stopped talking when they heard the noise as Warren's brows furrowed in confusion.
"What was that?"
Warren and Kitty walked into the living room to see Jean pulling back the small fire and extinguishing it.
"What did you do to my television?" He demanded.
"Sorry."
Jean focused her power on the flat-screen and in a few moments it repaired itself. Warren blinked as he watched in amazement.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Jean Grey. Kitty told me that you were once part of the X-Men."
"Yeah...I was. Until I lost my wings."
"I'm pretty sure I can help you."
"No you can't."
"She can, Warren. She healed the Professor's spine, he can walk now. And that's not the only one thing she's done." Kitty told him. "You wouldn't believe how many people she's helped."
"What can you do for me?" Warren asked Jean.
"I can regenerate the cells and restore your wings. But I have to warn you, the pain will be terrible."
"I can bear it. Anything…anything to fly again."
Jean nodded as she walked closer towards him.
"Turn around."
Warren did so and Jean placed a hand on his back. She began to focus her power on the young mutant. But as she concentrated, voices began to echo through her head. The first one was what she had just heard of Graydon Creed;
"Henry McCoy was a fraud."
Emma Frost's voice then spoke;
"If you're afraid that I'll steal him away then you better keep a hold of him, darling."
Anger then began to build in Jean as her hands and eyes began to glow with telekinetic energy. Warren then screamed as he fell to his knees, bones protruding from his back. Kitty cried out as she covered her eyes, turning away from the scene.
"...Unless you are willing to force mutation to the next stage." The voice of Sinister shouted in her mind. Jean tried to tune out the voices, but she couldn't. Wings then began to re-grow on Warren's back, but not feathered wings. They were long, sharp, metallic wings.
"The more power you have, the more good you can do." Xavier spoke. "And the more bad you can do as well, if you're not careful."
Jean then saw a flash of her childhood best friend, Annie Richardson being run over by a drunk driver. She then began to speak to Warren, in his mind. Warren continued to scream.
"Focus on the power. No one expects an angel to set the world on fire."
Warren's skin then began to turn into a turquoise color. The process was now over as Warren rose to his feet, extending his metal wings. He then fired razor-sharp feather projections into either side of the walls as he smiled at Jean. Feeling it was safe for her to look now, Kitty spun around. Her eyes widened in shock as she gaped at Warren's appearance.
"Oh my god! Warren!"
Jean again spoke to Warren via telepathy;
"Fight for me. My angel of death."
Warren grinned evilly.
"Thank you."
His voice was deeper, almost demonic as Warren then turned and flu with a great speed into the windows on the east side of the penthouse and crashed straight through them. The Angel of Death took off into the sky, flying faster than he had ever been before. Kitty ran over to Jean and to her shock she saw that Jean's eyes were lifeless and black as charcoal. Not the bright orange she was accustom to.
"Jean, what happened?"
She reached out and shook the older woman's shoulder. That seemed to shock Jean back to reality as her eyes went back to normal. She looked down at her hands which by now had stopped glowing.
"Oh god. What did I do? I...I didn't mean to..."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Down in the mansion subcomplex, Havok had just changed into his uniform and was getting ready for a solo session in the Danger Room. There was just one little problem, several damn kids wouldn't stop bothering him as Sam, Tabitha, Siryn followed him down the hall.
"Please, Mr. Summers."
"Don't call me Mr. Summers," Havok snapped. "That is reserved for Scott."
"Come on, it can just be a practice session." Sam begged.
"How old are you guys?"
"Sixteen."
"Forget it. Why do you want to be on the team anyway?"
"My dad was in the X-Men." Siryn informed him. "I want to help people like he did."
Havok didn't respond as he sighed and went to turn the corner when he suddenly Havok ran into Jamie, and about six more copies of Jamie.
"What are you, the Copy Man?" He asked.
"I'm Multiple Man." Each version of Jamie said that at different times.
"Well, leave me alone or you'll be in multiple pieces."
Havok pushed past the copies to the control room as the copies of Jamie came together as one.
"Jeez, you're no fun either. You really are Cyclops' brother."
Havok narrowed his eyes.
"Fine, you all can train with me."
The four of them hollered with celebration as Sam and Jamie high-fived. In the control room, Havok set the controls, but instead for a practice session, he set the difficulty for level three. He smirked a little before whispering under his breath;
"Be careful what you ask for."
Cannonball, Siryn, Boomer, and Multiple Man headed in when the doors opened. They glanced around the dome, taking it in when he doors then closed behind them.
"Hey, I thought you were going to do it with us." Cannonball yelled out.
Havok pressed the button that allowed him to watch went on as he spoke into the microphone.
"I changed my mind. This will be just for you guys."
The group of four looked at each other, a little worried now as the room began to transform into a twenty by twenty rocky area with sloping sides and a lake at the bottom. It was now a Mountain Battlefield, as large mountains surrounded them as they were just standing just a few feet from a cliff. A robotic voice then echoed throughout the area;
"The objective is to knock your opponents off the sides. You have five minutes to complete the task. If you get knocked off, then you have failed."
"What opponents?" Multiple Man asked as he looked around.
The side of the mountain then exploded as three living rock creatures begun to come at them. They were bulbous and misshapen. One had a head that was pointy, the second one's head was square.
"I'm guessing them." Boomer answered as she pointed at them.
The third rock creature had a hammer for a 'hand'. It swung in Boomer's direction but Cannonball quickly launched forward and grabbed her, taking them both up and out of harms way. Square-Head knocked Siryn to the ground but as it began to come at her again she let loose a ear-piercing screech. The vibration was enough to send the creature stumbling backwards until it fell off the cliff. The noise of Siryn caused Cannonball to become discombobulated and land back on the ground. Boomer formed two yellow orbs, sending them straight at the two remaining opponents. They tumbled backwards from the blast, but unfortunately, Multiple Man, who was just standing there doing nothing was send back to. He kept going until he tumbled off the cliff.
Cannonball shook his head.
"Useless."
While this was going on, Scott made his way though the hallway when he heard the noise coming from the Danger Room. He kept going until he reached the control room and saw his younger brother inside.
"What's going on?"
"Eh, I'm giving a couple of kids a session." Havok answered.
Scott ran over to see who it was.
"Alex! You just can't throw students into the Danger Room!"
Back inside, the session continued as the pointy-head rock creature knocked Boomer towards the edge of the cliff. She grabbed it just before she fell and started pulling herself back up. But by this point, the other creature grabbed Siryn's arms and began pushing her straight towards Boomer. Her hands slipped out and Boomer's ribs impacted with the cliff's sharp edge.
She screamed out in agony as Siryn tumbled off the edge, hitting Boomer on her way down, causing her to fall right after Siryn. They fell and the large river turned into pixels, than disappeared. Scott had hit the emergency stop button and everything in the Danger Room froze. It then shifted back to normal as Scott quickly made his way to them. The others had gathered around Boomer as she moaned in pain and held her sides.
"I think my ribs are broken."
The doors of the room then opened and Scott and Alex came rushing in. Jamie pointed at Sam.
"He made us do it! He talked us into it!"
Sam glared at him.
"You are so dead."
"Tabitha, are you okay?" Scott asked.
"No. But I'll live."
"Jamie, take Tabitha to the infirmary. Sam, Siryn, try to find Jean. I need to talk to Alex."
The kids did as they were told and once they were gone, Scott angrily turned to his younger brother.
"What the hell were you thinking!? They are only just students! They aren't trained for something like this!"
"I know, but they were gonna just keep nagging me."
"You think that's an excuse?"
Alex didn't respond, he just sighed heavily with frustration.
"I'm revoking your Danger Room privileges for a week." Scott then told him.
"You think I care about your permission?" Havok snapped.
"Don't push me, Alex."
"Are you always like this? You're probably the type of driver they invented the finger for." Scott placed his hands on his hips as he just stared at his younger brother. Havok then rolled his eyes. "Dude, lighten up, take a chance once in a while."
"Dad took a chance once. He decided to fly when there was a call for thunderstorms. But it was more important for him to get us to Alaska then risk losing two days of vacation."
Alex looked away. He then muttered under his breath;
"I don't even remember the accident."
"Lucky you."
Scott then walked around Alex and out of the Danger Room as the younger man ran his hand through his hair and sighed heavily. He too then made his way out.