-(XME)-
Chapter 16: Face Off, Part II
Kitty landed hard upon the top of the truck, the thick material below her causing her to bounce slightly. Shaking off the surprise, Kitty looked up just in time to see her attacker. His back was against the ceiling, four spider arms holding him up as his human limbs gripped the tunnel behind him. Six eyes stamped his forehead, as orange goggles covered one of the three pairs. A chilling smile was spread across his face.
"Vell hallo Fräulein!" his voice had a hissing sound to it. He said this just as his spider legs let go of the ceiling and he fell towards the girl. Gasping, Kitty closed her eyes and allowed herself to faze all the way through the truck. Opening her eyes, the brunette found herself under the vehicle. But she didn't stay under there for long, as a two fingered arm reached under the truck and pulled the girl out, tossing her further down the tunnel.
-(XME)-
Pain shot through his body as he slammed into the already cracked windshield. Putting a hand to his head, Scott opened his eyes and saw Catrina give a wild cry as flicked open her hands like claws. Walking over to the truck where the teen was thrown, Catrina hunched her shoulders and tilted her head so her face was shadowed, only adding to her ferocity.
Leaping onto the hood of the car, Catrina stood above Scott. Crouching above the teen, the Russian took one of her hands and swiped her claws across the teen's face. He hissed in pain as trickles of blood escaped from the four scratches. Taking her other hand, Catrina forced Scott to look into her eyes. She just stared at him, trying to figure him out. "Vhy do you prrotect zat girrl?"
Scott didn't know how to answer. He hadn't expected for the woman to ask a question, he thought she would strike again. Not wanting to get further harmed and trying to distract the woman, he answered her question. "Because I love her." Scott said, not trying to pull away from the woman's grip. Catrina tilted her head to the side like a cat, her long, dark hair gently touching Scott's arm. "Is zat vhy you fight, for herr?"
"I fight for her, for my friends, and to keep peace," the understanding look came back to the woman's face as she stood from Scott on the truck. Just staring at him for a moment, Catrina turned her back on the teen and jumped off the vehicle. "Why do you fight?" He suddenly asked, stopping Catrina as she was walking towards the jet. Scott didn't want her to go after Jean.
The Russian woman turned around, "Because I must, to prrotect zose I love." Scott knew he shouldn't have trusted the woman. He should have attacked her when he had the chance, she was too unpredictable, making her a dangerous enemy. Becoming fierce again, the woman suddenly took to a run, heading for the jet.
Scott stood up as fast as he could, but couldn't get a shot off before Catrina was running up the ramp. Fortunately, Jean could focus enough from the pain and towards the fight. Putting both hands on her temples, Jean sent out a telepathic wave, causing the woman to fall to the ground. Hissing like an angered cat, Catrina stood to her feet and went to attack when Jean caught her in mid air like before. Trying her best to hold her there, Jean closed her eyes and waited until Scott was directly below Catrina.
Letting the woman fall, Jean gripped her leg as the pain came back to her. Catrina didn't have time to flip onto her stomach as Scott caught her in his arms. Struggling was useless as the teen quickly placed her on her feet and gripped both arms behind her back. Then Scott gripped a part of her neck, and before she knew it, Catrina fell unconscious in the boy's arms.
-(XME)-
On the other end of the tunnel, Wolverine stood before an excited Urs. Becoming angry, Logan allowed his adrenaline to rush through his body. Urs simply smiled at him, as if saying "Bring it." And Wolverine did. Rushing forward with both arms on either side, Wolverine got just a few feet from the man when Urs stepped forward. Swinging his right fist forward, Urs punched Wolverine in the stomach, sending him across the tunnel and into the tipped truck.
Sliding from the bottom of the truck, Logan landed on his feet and glared at Urs. The German simply pulled his arm up and flexed his muscles. Almost growling, Wolverine charged the man once again. Urs saw this and couldn't help but wonder why this mutant charged him head on every time. Getting into a strong stance, Urs got ready to bang his fist together when he suddenly felt woozy.
Looking back and taking a few steps away, Urs saw Rogue laying on the ground, her arm outstretched. Part of the man's pant leg was rustled. Glaring at the teenage girl and furrowing his brow, Urs got ready to grab her when she suddenly sat up and banged her knuckles together.
Getting a taste of his own medicine, Urs flew back a few feet before he dug his feet into the ground to stop his body. However, Wolverine was counting on this as he leapt into the air. Landing on the man's back, Wolverine tried to knock Urs unconscious. However, the large being simply took hold of Wolverine's shoulders and sent him flying over him. Landing easily on his feet, the rough Canadian had a sudden boost of confidence in his abilities.
Unsheathing his claws, Wolverine waited for Urs to attack. The man couldn't help but give a slight smirk when Urs did what he wanted and sent another sound wave their way. Wolverine ducked to the ground, revealing a ready Rogue. The teenage girl only gave a Urs a "gotcha" look, as she smiled and hit her fists together as hard as she could.
The sound wave was larger than any Urs had ever produced. It hit the man like a freight train, crushing several ribs and dislocating his shoulders. But the pain that the German felt didn't stop there as his body was picked off its feet and slammed into the truck, becoming embedded in the now week metal. Completely unable to move without causing a sharp, clear pain to rip through his body.
"I think we got 'em." Rogue said, taking in deep breath from the work out. Logan smiled at the girl before he began to walk towards the truck. Standing right in front of the tipped vehicle, Logan looked Urs up and down. Then he pulled out a communicator. As Wolverine held it up to his head so he could contact the mansion, there was the sound of a gunshot.
-(XME)-
Storm struggled against the web. She could have easily gotten rid of it with a well aimed bit of lighting, but it would be too dangerous to bring one into the tunnel. Especially when she didn't know how everyone else was fairing. Sighing, the woman stopped moving, realizing that it only made the substance tighten around her.
Deciding she had to keep an eye on how Kitty was doing, the woman looked up to see the man whom had picked up the girl go flying past the space between the first and second truck. Then an angry Shadowcat came marching up, her shoulders hunched and her fists clenched tight. When she disappeared behind the first truck, there was a sudden scream and the spider-like man jumped atop the truck.
-(XME)-
Trying to get away from the crazed teen, Von scrambled onto the truck and jumped onto the ceiling. Kitty fazed quickly to the top of the truck and when she looked up, she scowled at the frightened German. All six of the man's eyes went wide with fear when Kitty looked up and saw him. Letting go of the ceiling, Von quickly let four strands of web loose from each insect arm. Swinging his feet up, the two arms that shot towards the back let their grip go and Von easily swung onto the hood of the second truck.
Giving a small frustrated cry, Kitty ran and jumped, landing hard on the hood as a frightened Von Spiderwick scrambled away. Wanting to go after her prey, Kitty suddenly remembered Storm. Looking back at the trapped woman, she could help but give a shy smile as Ororo looked upon her with surprise. Jumping down from the truck, Kitty walked over to Storm and took hold of each arm. Concentrating, the girl pulled her teacher from the web.
Storm gave a small thanks, which was acknowledged with a small nod from Kitty. "We must hurry and help the others. I am afraid that the other performers may be more up to fighting than our little friend was." Ororo said, looking down on the girl, who's eyes were locked on Scott and Jean's fight not too far away. Storm looked as well and commented on how the two seemed to be done as Scott lowered an unconscious woman to the ground.
"Let's keep looking for Kurt, he's in one of these trucks."
"Yes, I agree. I just hope he wasn't in that one," Ororo said, nodding to the end of tunnel. The brunette turned and her eyes went wide in terror as she looked upon the smashed vehicle. Not knowing what else to do, "Professor!" "What is it Kitty?" the man didn't bother scolding the girl about causing him to use his powers around Jack. "Was Kurt in that truck?!" There was a moment's pause, in which the teen feared the worse. "No, he isn't in this one."
The girl let out a sigh and gave a content look towards the older woman. "Not that one," was all she said and Ororo understood. About to turn to look in the second truck, Kitty suddenly noticed something. Where the light was let in through the end where the helicopter was, Kitty could see someone standing upon the fourth truck. It wasn't her little spider friend, the silhouette wasn't distorted enough. Instead, only one name came to mind. "Storm, that's Jack!"
Ororo looked up to where Kitty had pointed. Agreeing with the girl, the older woman suddenly noticed something. Jack holding an item in his hand. Squinting a bit, the image became a bit clearer. Gasping at the realization of what was in the man's hand, Storm suddenly rose into the air and began to fly towards Logan and Rogue. Confused, but knowing something was wrong, Kitty began to run towards the end of the tunnel as well when both female mutants suddenly stopped.
-(XME)-
A/N: I know, I know. This one is shorter than the last. But you have to realize that they were expose to be one big chapter. But I cut it in half cause I didn't have time to finish it. Anyway, only a couple chapters left. Thank-you to everyone for reviewing! I hope you'll do it again.