Disclaimer: Marvel Entertainment owns everything, with the exception of Cat who is my own creation. This is a work of fanfic, no copyright infringement intended.
Author's note. This story takes place in the altered reality ruled by Magneto and the HOUSE OF M, created by the reality-warping powers of the Scarlet Witch. As such, the histories and affiliations of some characters may have changed significantly. Aurora and Northstar are seen as SHIELD Trainers in the New X Men. Aurora relationship with Kyle is purely in my head, as it seemed the relationship that would best fit in this altered world. Iceman is seen as a horseman of Apocalypse in Black Panther 7, who is ruler of Egypt. If I've missed anything major, all review questions will be answered, unless I don't know.
Author Note 2. I suffer from dyslexia and lack a beta reader. So if my spelling/ grammar really offend anyone would they like to volunteer?
Major thanks to CaptMacKenzie, who has kept me going. Virtual cookie to you. Please if I am on your alerts, or you want to add me leave a review. I respond very well to reviews.
Chapter 7 Fight!
The SHIELD Canteen.
The canteen was packed. This was not surprising, not only had the primary shift of the day just finished, but it was also meatloaf, a meal that was universally acknowledged as being good on the Helicarrier.
The atmosphere however was very different to normal. It was tense and angry.
Everyone was affected, even the normally cool Red Guard, who had come in hair still wet from the showers. The SHIELD Trainers were also affected. This had filtered down to their charges, who were all but out of control.
Snatches of conversation drifted across the room.
"'Ah don't care what you think Kurt, 'ah don't like it. We never trained there before..."
"Something's up. Cat and James are on edge."
"What's new? Come on Jess, you worry too much,"
"Don't you tell me what to do James Howlett!!"
"You don't understand. You weren't here last time Myst."
"You think I care?..."
"They'll have to do it again Danielle. I'm sorry but they weren't concentrating."
"I know. But can you blame them...?" she trailed off as the room fell silent.
"We should go." Bishop muttered. He'd seen places in Hell's Kitchen with this atmosphere. Places you didn't go off duty. Places where it was dangerous to go off duty.
Lily however had already joined the queue. She stood next to two SHIELD agents, their grey circular belt buckles marking them as trainers. Both had black hair and pointed ears. The woman lifted her head, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. Then she saw Lily. Lily smiled.
What happened next, no one was entirely sure of. All they knew that one moment Lily was smiling at the dark haired agent and the next the woman's fist had made contact with her face at high speed.
"AURORA!!" The man standing next to the duo screamed as he grabbed the agent. Lily clutched her face, trying to stop herself screaming in agony. Wolverine as the senior officer present took control.
"Get her to sickbay." He snapped at Nightcrawler, before barking at a couple of agents to take Aurora to the brig. But even as he did so his eyes fell on Bishop and there was no mistaking the hatred in the mutant's eyes.
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SHIELD Infirmary.
"You were lucky." Dr Abraham said.
"Had Aurora been going at full speed, or been a better aim, she would have killed you."
"I don't feel lucky." Lily observed unintelligible.
Nightcrawler stood at attention, watching the pair with yellow pupil-less eyes. He suddenly nodded.
"Commander Shaw wishes to see her now. He says that you should use agent Foley."
"That won't be necessary," Dr Abraham began, as a golden skinned mutant entered sickbay, but Nightcrawler interrupted him.
"Commander Shaw wishes to see her now!" and his forked tail swished from side to side though the hole in his trousers, making him appear even more demonic.
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SHIELD Brig.
"Calm down!? You tell me to calm down brother?"
Standing outside the first in a row of cells that formed the SHIELD Brig, Jean Paul Beaubier, Agent Northstar, wondered if he should save his breath. However he persisted.
"You're here for two hours." He said, forcing his own voice to remain calm. "That is the minimum Shaw could give you for your offence."
"Defending our communities?!"
"Fighting in the canteen! And you should count yourself lucky he didn't charge you with offences under the race relations act."
"She's causing trouble!" Jeanne Marie, also known as Aurora, snarled.
"She's investigating a death."
"Why"
"Because that is her job."
Aurora snorted in response.
Possibly as a result of her painful upbringing by nuns, Aurora had a horror of dark, small spaces. The SHIELD brig fulfilled both these qualities, which was the only reason Northstar hadn't walked off.
Instead he changed tactics.
"Shaw agrees with your sentiments, if not your methods. Your punishment is merely to remind everyone that fighting in the canteen will not be tolerated, no matter what the provocation."
In reply, aurora attempted to punch him, but the bars got in the way and she fell back on the bunk weeping.
Northstar knelt down beside her and held her though the bars.
"Kyle. After she talked to him. Oh god." She sobbed into his arm.
Northstar held her as close as he could, and bit his tongue to prevent him saying something he'd regret about Kyle. He could not understand his sister's fascination with the animal, but knew from past experience to keep silent.
"And when it was over. When he got up. He wouldn't even look at me!" he collapsed incoherently.
"How can someone you love hurt you so much?"
You've no idea how often I've wondered the same thing. Northstar thought, remembering his phone call to the Egyptian embassy a few moments ago. But he said nothing out loud, merely held her close and gazed at the clock. One hour to go.
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The office of Sebastian Shaw, director of SHIELD.
Bishop stood looking at Shaw. The mutant sat perfectly still, appearing calm. This image was destroyed by the fact that the mutant commanders within the room were all standing well out of range.
"Do you remember," Shaw asked his voice perfectly calm. "What were my conditions to your investigation?"
"With all due respect sir, Detective Rush-"
Shaw's eyes flashed up, and it at once was evident how the man had risen to become a COE and then director of SHIELD.
A knock at the door did little lessen the tension. Lily entered.
"Dismissed."
The mutant officers began to file out. Some shot looks of sympathy at them, but most looked pleased.
"I have received," Shaw began his voice silkily smooth. "Nearly twenty complaints. None of them" he continued, holding up his hands to halt their protests. "From those you questioned.
"Their commanders however were concerned that you focused more upon weapon X project, than on Scott Eaton's death." He shuffled some paper in front of him, though both were sure it was merely for show.
"So," he continued. "I decided to reread the original investigation. I found something very interesting."
Next to him Lily tensed.
"Among the list of the dead, there is a Lt. Rush. Your father, I believe Detective."
"Your point, Colonel?" Bishop asked. He knew he'd been played for a sucker, but equally he knew that they had to continue. There were too many questions for them not to. Shaw frowned.
"I am withdrawing my position for you to question my agents. You now have 10 minutes to get the hell off my ship!"
He dropped his gaze back to the papers in front of him.
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It might have been coincidence that Agent Cat was waiting in the corridor as they left Shaw's office, but Bishop highly doubted it.
"Some free advice." Cat said, regarding them both with dislike. "Weapon X was bad news then and it's worse now." Lily tried to push past her, but she grabbed her arm.
"Honey, learn something from this. Your father is dead."
"By your hands." Lily said, making no attempt to hide the hatred in her voice.
"Possibly." Cat agreed calmly. "But I and every other known weapon X survivor can be accounted for last night. And" she said, leaning in to gaze into Lily's eyes. "Scott Eaton is also dead."