Disclaimer: I dont own the X-men
The Mission of Hellfire
Chapter 16: To defeat darkness
Demons possessed heightened strength, enough to lift 5 times their own weight and smash through a brick wall. That and they had their magic and feral nature, but despite this nature they were also cunning. Soldier never said he was intelligent, but he didn't need knowledge to strategise. He didn't even need a strategy at all as the demons ran towards him. Picking up his shield, Soldier smashed one across the head, and then kicked another in the groin. He swung his arms round, backhanding two more demons and smashing his head into another. Seven of the demons piled on top of him, punching him in the back and chest. Just as they prepared to bite him, Soldier broke one of his arms free. One arm was all he needed. He poked one in the eye, then grabbed the ear of another. With one twist of his wrist he tore the demons ear off, the demon rolled across the floor, clutching his bleeding ear in agony. Utilising the freedom he gained, Soldier preceded to elbow the demon holding him from behind, then drove his knee into a demon that approached him.
He threw his shield, cutting a path straight through the demons. Running as fast as he could, Soldier jumped into a group of demons, grabbing his shield and clobbering each one of them across the head. Five more demons leapt into the air, brandishing their claws and fangs as they fell towards Soldier. He jumped up, kicking one across the head, and throwing his shield into the head of another. Rolling across the floor, Soldier grabbed one of the demons by its ankles. Growling as he lifted him off the floor, Soldier swung the demon round, smacking others across the head. He threw the demon into five of his comrades, and then elbowed one that tried to sneak up on him.
Selene and Unus watched the fight in utter shock, the man was holding his own against a small army. He received the occasional hit and scratch, but he still fought like a madman. His movements weren't even that disciplined, it was no martial art that Selene recognised. He slid across the floor, tripping two demons up then drop kicking their necks. Planting his hands on the ground, he then kicked two straight in the jaw. He jumped to his feet, spinning round and elbowing two demons round the back of their heads.
"Wanda, get here now" Selene said into her earpiece.
"But mistress Selene I have just finished painting the runes for Pietro's converting" Wanda said.
"DON'T QUESTION ME GIRL!!!" Selene yelled.
Kurt smiled for Selene was officially losing it. Her arrogant attitude had finally caught up with her. Soldier was an ordinary man, and here he was standing against her, opposing her and overcoming impossible odds. Unus ran down the steps, raising his fist as he prepared to strike Soldier. But Soldier ducked, grabbing Unus's arm and throwing him over his shoulder. Unus got off the floor, aiming the palm of his hand at Soldier. On instinct the masked man rolled to the side as a bubble appeared around the place he once stood.
'He's going to try and trap me, and cut off my air supply, or maybe squash me, don't let it happen' Soldier thought, diving to the left as Unus tried to trap him again.
With a yell, Soldier ran forward, sliding across the floor. He kicked at Unus's legs, but his barrier protected him from the blow. Realising that Unus couldn't be stopped with traditional blows, he grabbed the barrier around the boy's legs. Untouchable he might have been, but Unus wasn't immovable. With one tug, Soldier threw the boy to the ground. Then he picked him up off the floor, holding him by his leg and swinging him round and round. Soldier closed his eyes, utilising his sharp hearing to draw a picture of where the incoming enemies were. Swerving to the left, Soldier dodged a slash from a demon, and then struck that demon across the head with Unus. He span on the spot, hammer throwing Unus onto the steps at Selene's feet.
"And how much energy did you lose with that little stunt, your on your last legs "Soldier"" Selene grinned as the demons surrounded Soldier again.
This time, Soldier was panting. But he wouldn't give up until the end. The door opened and Wanda walked into the room, removing her cloak to reveal her Hellfire attire. She and Jean stepped forward, followed by Empath. Unus shook his head as he attempted to get up off the floor, but quickly covered his mouth as he vomited inside his barrier. Empath and Jean put their hands to their heads, attempting to reach into Soldier's mind. For a moment, Soldier put a hand to his head before throwing his shield. Selene ducked underneath the spinning disc, which rebounded off the wall, hitting the back of Empath's head.
"Telepaths wont work on me, my mind is too focused on my task" Soldier said.
"Perhaps, but I have a better idea, I'll expose you for what you really are, a selfish and flawed human who will fall into darkness in order to save himself…humanity is too engrossed in its own survival that is why it will turn to genocide in order to protect itself and when all hope is lost they will turn to a false prophet or god" Selene explained.
"Religion isn't all bad…true it can cause troubles but it also sets others apart, it can help them become individuals and give them a sense of hope for the future…that hope can become determination, a willingness to succeed" Soldier countered.
"Success can only be gained from sacrifice"
"Not all the time, there are those who become successful, who make their dreams come true without sacrifice"
"Don't kid yourself humans would eat one another" Selene shot back.
"And I suppose you'd know a lot about that considering the fact that you are human"
"Ooooh snap!" Kurt said with a chuckle.
Selene kicked the boy across the head, grinding her teeth together.
"We are not human, we are above them all" Selene growled.
"You say that you're above us, and yet here you are, your as far from being on my level as you can get" Soldier said.
"YOU FUCKING LOWY INSECT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ABOVE DARKNESS!!!!"
"DARKNESS IS A PART OF HUMAN NATURE! BUT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALL THERE IS!!" Soldier yelled. "HUMANS CAN FALL TO DARKNESS BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE PULLED OUT! JEAN GREY LOOK AT THIS PICTURE!!!"
The masked man reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture of Jean and the X-men. It was the school photo they took after the defeat of Apocalypse. That day was one of the happiest in Jean's life, for she was able to look to the future with hope. But she was loyal to Selene; she could never abandon the Hellfire club.
"YOUR IN LOVE WITH SCOTT SUMMERS! YOU HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS I KNOW YOU CANT FORGET THEM!!!"
"SHUT UP!!" Selene screamed. "YOU PATHETIC WORTHLESS HUMAN I'LL SHOW YOU!!!"
"I ALREADY KNOW ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL! THERE ARE EVIL MEN WHO CAN STILL BE SAVED!!! But you Selene, you've lived for too long and still maintained your cruelty, I wont let you kill anyone anymore"
"You fool, look around you, these Fallen angels were the greatest of humanity, but they fell into darkness just as you will fall"
"They merely lost their way, they can still be saved" Soldier said, remaining defiant even as the rune he stood on began to glow.
"JUST SHUT UP AND FALL!!!!" Selene yelled, her young appearance fading as her face took on a more demonic appearance.
With a clap of her hands, Selene caused the energy on the rune to crackle violently. Soldier suddenly fell to his knees as purple and black electricity crackled around him. He felt a pressure on his back and mind as dark thoughts began to invade him. Twisting his head, Soldier growled, he wouldn't give Selene the satisfaction of knowing that he was in agony. It was never about defeating Selene; Soldier had faith that there were heroes out there that would defeat Selene every time she tried one of her plots. He breathed heavily as Selene walked towards him. Her body was starting to lose its elegance, taking on a more muscular tone as she stepped into the rune. The effects of her magic intensified as black rain began to pour onto Soldier.
"That's it my dear, give in…fall into the darkness, this is humanities fate, even beyond death they will fall into the void" Selene said.
"Then I will pull them out…your darkness isn't the most powerful force on this Earth, there is a force even greater than that" Soldier growled.
"Your living in a dream world…I'll show you what the most powerful force on this planet is" Selene said before walking away from Soldier.
Just as she returned to the steps, the door opened and those who had been brainwashed by Selene widened their eyes as a gigantic figure walked through the doors. He towered over the Hellfire Club members at ten foot, wearing some kind of bulky dark armour. It was his face that frightened the club members, or rather his lack thereof. The armour had no helmet, there was merely a black skull that could be seen inside the armour, its eyes glowing red as black mist fumed from the cannon on its left arm.
"Behold and kneel to your new god, Holocaust, the son of apocalypse and god of the darkness" Selene declared and at her command the pawns bowed.
"Kneel to me!" Holocaust said.
Soldier felt the intensity of the darkness increase as Holocaust approached. Each step the shadow being took added weight to the masked mans very soul. Kurt and Amanda could only watch as Holocaust towered over Soldier, the fallen angels gathering around them.
"You truly think that darkness can be defeated? You're a Naïve fool believing in humanities good, had you lived the kind of life others have lived…"
"You don't know shit about my life…I have suffered in this world, but the difference between you and I is that I didn't let the darkness overcome me" Soldier said defiantly as he pressed his left foot against the floor, trying to get up.
"And yet here you are, on the verge of falling into darkness"
"Your wrong, even if I did fall alls that needs to be done to save me is for me to be pulled back into the light"
"Light?" Holocaust said in confusion.
Soldier grunted, getting up off the floor and looking up at Holocaust defiantly. Holocaust raised his fist, slamming it into Soldier's shield. The masked man felt his arm break from the force of the blow, but even then he still remained defiant. Jean and Wanda looked at the man, astonished by the stance he took, even against one of the world's most powerful mutants. He was breathing heavily, his legs shaking as he put all his remaining strength into holding back Holocaust's arm. Holocaust stepped back, aiming his cannon at Soldier.
"NOOO!!!!" Kurt yelled as Holocaust fired the cannon.
The massive dark blast slammed into Soldier's shield, shattering it and covering the man in black flames. Selene laughed as the mans body rolled across the floor and both Kurt and Amanda lost the hope in their eyes.
"Light…that's what your light has done for you fool…what a pathetic end, all your defiance did was earn you more pain" Holocaust said.
"Wrong!"
Holocaust looked at the body in confusion as it began to rise. Soldier turned around, revealing the left part of his mask. The smoke on his right shoulder, chest and left leg faded, revealing the plain grey armour underneath. Soldier reached into the packs on his back, pulling out a sword and spear just as the armour around his left eye shattered to pieces.
"It isn't about proving it to you, its about proving it to them…I must save them" Soldier said, looking at the Fallen angels around him.
Tears fell down Kurt's face, inspired by this mans bravery and selflessness. Selene merely scoffed, she had seen this kind of man before, she couldn't understand how people opposed her despite threats and promises of pleasures. She would offer them true pleasure, but they would deny her offer and oppose her. And every time they died defiantly. But then her attention turned to the fallen angels; they began to look at the Soldier with sympathetic looks.
"Just kill him quickly my lord" Selene said hysterically as Wanda and Jean began to have looks of doubt on their faces as well.
"NO! I want to know what keeps this fool going, I want to know what drives this man, what force could possible keep you moving forward like this?" Holocaust asked.
Wanda and Jean looked at the masked man with anticipation across their faces. For a moment they could have sworn they saw a gold aura around him as he stepped forward.
"Faith! FAITH THAT PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE IN GOOD!!!" Soldier roared before throwing the spear.
Holocaust fired his cannon again, but much to his shock the spear flew straight through the dark energy.
"Adamantium! STRAIGHT THROUGH YOUR TWISTED MIND!!!" Soldier yelled as the blast flew towards him.
Kurt gathered all his strength and teleported to Soldier's side. He grabbed the mans shoulder, teleporting out of the blasts way. The spear pierced through Holocaust's armour, and straight through his skull. Yelling in pain, the dark energy inside the armour began to emanate from the shell, rising into the air.
"THIS ISNT OVER!!!" Holocaust yelled before his spirit disappeared from view.
"I know…and there will be heroes ready and willing to stop you" Soldier whispered.
Selene looked at the armour as it shattered. This was impossible Soldier couldn't be winning. She looked to her side and gasped as the darkness left Wanda and Jean's eyes. Jean helped Amanda up off the floor, using her cloak to cover her naked form.
"There's a way out through these doors, we can also retrieve Pietro and X-23" Wanda explained, opening the door behind Selene.
"Amanda can you walk?" Jean asked kindly.
"Yes I'm fine, go and help Kurt" She said.
Selene grinded her teeth together, these bitches had the gall to ignore her.
"Forget me, you two carry Unus and Empath, and start walking out of here" Soldier said.
"What about you?" Kurt asked.
"I'll catch up…just trust me"
Kurt looked into the mans eye and nodded his head. He, Amanda, Jean and the other pawns walked out of the door, leaving Soldier with the fallen angels and Selene. The masked man looked towards Selene with something no one had looked at her with in a long time. Pity, he pitied her fate. She rushed forward, grabbing Soldier's cheeks.
"YOU ARENT THE ONE TO BRING ME DOWN!!!" She screamed.
Soldier slapped her across the face, knocking her to the floor.
"In another life…I would have wanted to save you, but now I wont, you don't have my hate or my envy, merely my pity…goodbye Black Queen of the Hellfire club" He said as he turned his back.
Selene looked around, breathing hysterically as the fallen angels approached her, their wings changing to an elegant white colour.
"STAY AWAY! NO THIS ISNT RIGHT NO ONE CAN BE PULLED OUT OF DARKNESS!!!" She screamed as the angels grabbed her arms and legs.
Soldier walked away, only listening to Selene's screams. The angels tugged hard on her limbs and hair. She screamed in agony, this wasn't foreplay; they were truly trying to kill her this time. This wasn't right; this wasn't how things were supposed to be. She was the Black Queen nothing could oppose her empire. Even as the angels tore her apart she kept on screaming, the angels gathering around her head. Soldier closed his eyes as the screams faded, for Selene wasn't truly dead. Her spirit remained on this plane of existence, forever watching humanity, a witness to its history. That was her punishment, to never move on.
Selene hadn't just held Pietro and X-23 prisoner, but at least ten other ordinary people who would never surrender to her will. They waited for Soldier outside, smiling and gathering around him as he walked outside. Some had been held prisoner by Selene for years and cried as they saw the light.
"Thank you!" They said to Soldier, hugging and patting him on the shoulder.
But his top priority remained getting the prisoners out as he radio for the jets autopilot. Some of the prisoners, Kurt included cheered as the jet came into view.
"Kurt, take that jet, the controls are similar to the blackbird, fly back to your mansion, I've got one final task to carry out before the mission is complete, a separate jets just a few clicks from here, I'll use that to assist Wolverine and Cable, something tells me they need help" Soldier explained.
"If that's the case then I'm coming with you, you'll need assistance as well" X-23 said.
Soldier nodded his head, accepting any help the girl could give him. They watched the jet fly off then began their walk back to Soldier's ship.
'Logan, Nathan, I'll save you two as well' Soldier vowed.
Next Chapter 17: The true king