Disclaimer: I dont own the X-men
The Mission of Hellfire
Chapter 18: Rebellion
Soldier hadn't given up hope yet; these wild men and women all bared a grudge against Sinister and the Hellfire club. They were the army he needed to defeat Essex and saved the X-men. He stayed still as the warriors approached him with their spears in hand.
"You've lost people who are precious to you because of this man?" He asked.
"Both my parents as well as Shanna's were tortured right in front of our eyes by the witch Selene" The blonde haired wild man said.
"Selene has been punished for her crimes, she can spread her influence no longer"
"And does that take away the thousands of my people who have been butchered by Sinister, used as sex slaves by the Hellfire club, what is to stop you from telling the leaders of your world so they can come here and destroy our culture?"
The masked man looked at the ground for a moment before he spoke.
"Nothing…nothing could stop my leaders from finding out about this place whether I tell them or not, just like nothing can stop you from killing me right now, I used to be a man of honour, but now I've crossed more lines than the club…if people really knew about all the bad things I've done in service of my country they would say I'm no better than the club…but now! Now I finally have a chance to do something worth doing, not just saving the people that are being held in Sinister's castle, not just defeating Hellfire's order with ideals but liberating this land of Sinister's reign. Right now I'm planning on going against Sinister's army, you're welcome to join me if you wish, if not you could either kill me now or just let me get killed fighting Sinister" Soldier explained, looking the tribal leader in the eyes as the tigers around him growled.
"They have guns, and mutant powers…alls we have is numbers and determination" The red haired woman said.
Soldier lowered his head, that wasn't enough to make them lay down their lives. But whether this tribe would aid him or not he needed to fight. He still had a mission to complete.
"Your right…there's no sense in all of you getting killed in a fight you probably wont win…even if there's some small hope that you might win, even if your willing to die for your freedom I suppose that's still not enough to rise against evil…the only thing necessary for evil's triumph is inaction from good men…I wont do nothing while Sinister continues to get his way…I wont give up!"
Still they showed hesitance, but this time they lowered their spears and allowed Soldier to walk past.
"What's your name?" Soldier asked the tribe leader.
"Ka-Zar…what of yours stranger?"
"I'm just a Soldier with a job to finish"
With those words Soldier ran into the forest, with X-23 following him. He ran as fast as he could, drawing his sword and pistol. X-23 popped her claws out and growled as the two of them exited the forest. They looked upon the Hellfire guards and mutants guarding the castle and continued their run. X-23 ran in front of Soldier, taking the bullets fired at her by the Hellfire guards. A stray bullet struck Soldier's leg; he stumbled but continued to run forward. The Hellfire guards suddenly widened their eyes as Ka-Zar and his people ran out of the jungle. They had grown tired of running; today they would end the Hellfire club once and for all.
Scott ran through the portal, followed by the members of the X-men and Brotherhood. As soon as they came through the portal they looked outside the window and widened their eyes as wild men and women were fighting against Hellfire guards. Kurt looked closer into the battle and saw Soldier cutting down one Hellfire guard.
"The guy in the black suit is the one who saved us" Kurt said, pointing at Soldier.
"I know, everybody go and help those people, Jean and I will help Cable and Wolverine" Scott said.
The other X-men and Brotherhood members nodded their heads and rushed into the battle. Nightcrawler grabbed Gambit and Rogue, teleporting outside, kicking Deathstrike across the face. Blob smashed through the wall of the castle, landing on a group of Hellfire guards. Toad leap from the castle, spitting a flurry of slime onto the faces of Hellfire guards. Quicksilver ran down the castle wall; slamming into the Hellfire soldiers, deliver punches and kicks to their faces. Living up to his namesake Cannonball launched himself into the Hellfire soldiers. Tabitha jumped off of the castle, throwing hundreds of explosive marbles. At the same time Storm summoned multiple bolts of lighting, crashing them and the explosives down on the ground, knocking back multiple soldiers. Then she used her wind to slowly float Tabitha to the ground.
"All units, focus your attention on the X-men, once they are out of the fight victory will be ours" Tessa said, shooting one of Ka-Zar's tribesmen in the head.
She drew another pistol, shooting several other tribe members. A man wearing silver samurai armour drew his sword, cutting down two tribesmen. Ka-Zar stabbed a soldier in the chest with his sword.
"ZABU!!" He yelled, signalling the sabre tooth tigers to attack.
The tigers jumped at the soldiers, sinking their teeth into their necks and shoulders. Beast kicked two soldiers across the head, while Spike knocked two more out with a his bone knuckle dusters. Scarlet Witch put her hands together, causing the soldiers guns to jam with her hex bolts. Then Quicksilver ran at them, punching them at a rate faster than eyes could see. Iceman slid down the castle wall alongside Magma. Both elementals blasted the soldiers with their powers, freezing them and burning their hands. Soldier shot two guards in the head, and slashed another across the chest. He widened his eyes as a group of Ka-Zar's tribesmen fell from the sky. Hellfire Guards were riding on top of pterodactyls, shooting at them from above. Storm created a large gust of wind, sending two pterodactyls flying into the forest. Rogue kicked a guard across the head, grabbing Gambit's staff and poking another soldier in the gut. The Cajun then slammed his boot into the mans face.
"GET RID OF THE X-MEN!!" Tessa yelled.
"A little busy here bitch!" Deadpool growled, firing his submachine guns into a group of tribe members.
He fired at Tabitha, who was pushed out of the way by Sam. The two mutants rolled across the floor, hiding behind a rock as Deadpool continued to target them with his guns. Beats kicked two more soldiers across the head before jumping into a group of Hellfire guards in Soldier's way.
"Where's the rest of your team?" Soldier asked.
"Saving our friends!" Beast said before roaring.
Beast swung his arms round, throwing two soldiers across the field. Zabu and his pack of tigers ran across the battlefield, gutting any Hellfire guard that got in their way. But the Silver Samurai swung his sword, creating a wave that sliced several tigers in half. He slashed two more tribesmen across their throats, and then stabbed a woman in the chest. Deathstrike slashed at Kurt, who was easily able to dodge or teleport away from her strikes. He punched her in the face, then teleported behind her and kicked her in the back.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR STANDING IN MY WAY!!!" Yuriko yelled.
"I don't know why your trying to kill Logan but I don't really care, he's my friend and you wont hurt him" Kurt said defiantly.
Swinging his feet round, Kurt kicked Deathstrike across the head, throwing her into the mud. Gambit threw several cards onto the ground, using them as mines for the approaching soldiers. Tessa stood on one of the tanks, cutting down tribesmen with the minigun.
"Fire the cannon!" She ordered.
"But our own men?"
"Are necessary sacrifices" She said strongly.
Soldier stabbed a guard in the stomach with his sword, cursing as his pistol ran out of ammo. He slid across the floor, slicing two more soldiers legs. Jumping to his feet, Soldier ran at the Silver Samurai. The two warriors slammed their blades together, but the Japanese man smirked as he activated his powers. Soldier rolled to the side just in time as the samurai launched a wave at him. He had gotten away unscathed, but his sword had been broken in half. Throwing the pieces of the blade aside, Soldier picked up a hammer left by one of the dead tribesmen. Silver Samurai prepared to fire another wave, but turned his attention to the approaching X-23. She slashed at the samurai, scratching off a piece of his chest armour. He swung his blade round, slashing her across the face. But X-23 easily recovered popping out her feet blades and jumping into the air. She span in midair, cutting the samurai's sword into ribbons.
"You wont kill me!" He said, drawing his smaller dagger.
"SAMURAI!!!" Soldier yelled.
The Silver Samurai swung his head round just as Soldier threw the stone axe. It slammed into the samurai's head, piercing his helmet and skull. X-23 ran to her next opponent whilst Soldier picked up a spear and threw it into the head of a Hellfire guard. Picking up that guard's rifle, he began firing up in the air, shooting down a pterodactyl. Running across the field, Soldier continued to shoot at the tank, drawing its driver's attention.
"FORGET SOLDIER JUST FIRE THE CANNON NOW!!!" Tessa yelled, shooting her pistol at Soldier.
The masked man took cover behind a stone. He grinded his teeth together as Tessa continued to shoot at him. Hopefully Ka-Zar and Shanna were doing a better job on their end. The two lovers cut their way through the Hellfire guards, reaching the castle gate. Magma created a wall of molten rock, using it as a shield for the tribesmen under enemy fire. Iceman widened his eyes as he saw the tank aiming its cannon towards them. Blob growled before he broke off into a run straight at the tank.
"QUICKLY FIRE!!!" Tessa yelled.
The driver fired and the shell slammed into Blob's belly, exploding and sending him crashing to the ground.
"FREDDY! FREDDY ARE YOU OKAY!!" Toad yelled.
"Damn…that'll hurt in the morning!" Blob mumbled.
Running across the field, X-23 jumped at Deathstrike. She slashed the woman's right arm, sending sparks flying onto the floor.
"YOU BITCH! YOUR LIKE THAT GAIJIN!!!" She yelled.
"I AM NOT WOLVERINE!!" X-23 yelled.
"Hold it elf, Remy don't think that's a cat fight you want to be in the middle of" Gambit said as he tugged Kurt's tail.
Kurt looked at the scene, gulping as the two women slashed one another with their claws. If they didn't have healing factors they would have been torn about by one another's vicious slashes.
Scott and Jean ran through the corridors of Sinister's castle, facing minimal resistance on their way to the lab. In the said lab, Cable glared at Stryfe as he walked across the room, looking at Shiro and Josh. He removed his glove, touching Josh's forehead.
"Well it seems that this version hasn't reached his full potential yet!" Stryfe said, again in a voice that was identical to Cable's.
"What are you talking about?" Josh asked.
"I'm saying Foley that you aren't just capable of healing…be prepared for a new look when you really use your abilities" Stryfe said.
"So you were the one pulling the strings?" Logan asked with a growl.
"Yes, I gave Hellfire information on the weaknesses of all the X-men, Spike wasn't all that different from Marrow so he wasn't a problem, the intention was to make the X-men aware of that threat, a threat that would have worked behind the shadows of society, forever using fear to dictate the path of every citizen of this reality…except for the heroes, it sickens me looking at the realities where the heroes never see where the real evil lies, the disgusting nature of the Hellfire club…they talk of a corrupt society, a world of order….but they can never realise that humanity is incapable of order, and that every single member is human as well, flawed, corrupted by deceit, murder, money and sex"
"I don't understand!" Jubilee said.
"Of course you wouldn't, your always blind to the worlds problems…Cable and I have been to many worlds, battling one another, he tries to stop me from doing what is necessary, can you all deny that this whole experience has strengthened your resolve, your bond?" Stryfe asked. "I have seen countless versions of the X-men, sometimes they don't become X-men and fall into darkness, other times they arrogantly go about their daily business doing nothing to help society, that's even more sickening than the ones who become part of Hellfire" Stryfe growled, putting on his glove and squeezing his hand into a fist.
The armoured man sounded truly disgusted and angry about the kind of worlds he had been to. Cable admitted that the paths the different versions of the X-men took too had disturbed him. But he saw realities where X-men became heroes to the public. Stryfe traced his wrist blade across Cable's face.
"You too are corrupt Cable, you can try to hide what you did from them forever, but one day you'll end up in a reality filled with X-men that will judge you for your crime" Stryfe whispered.
"SHUT UP!!" Cable yelled.
Stryfe stepped away from Cable, smiling at the reaction.
"So you're rid of the club, what do you want with us?" Alex asked.
"To see if you can become the heroes this world deserves" Stryfe said.
The man put his hands together and began chanting in a language that not even Wolverine had heard before. Suddenly he thrust his hands forward, creating bolts of lighting that slammed into the X-men.
"I've had you captured, tortured, raped and twisted in ways you never imagined…some of you fell into darkness and hurt your friends, even killed in order to stay alive…. but did you really have to kill in order to defend yourself?" Stryfe asked.
The question tore at Rahne, the taste of the Hellion Catseye's flesh still in her mouth.
"Do you have to kill in order to change the world? Perhaps you could answer that question Cable!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!!!" Cable yelled, struggling under the vines grip.
"The test is coming…to see whether they are truly X-men" Stryfe whispered.
Suddenly the door swung open, revealing Jean and Scott. Stryfe looked at them and huffed before he began walking towards them. Cyclops fired an optic blast into Stryfe's chest, but much to his shock the man wasn't sent flying back. Jean tried to use her telekinesis but something stopped her from using it. Stryfe jumped at Jean and Cyclops, seemingly flying at them. He slammed his fist into the gap between Jean and Scott, sending a crack through the ground and creating a shockwave that threw the two X-men aside.
"JEAN! USE YOUR TK TO RELEASE US!!!" Wolverine yelled.
"YES RELEASE THEM!!" Stryfe yelled.
Jean concentrated hard with her telekinesis, suddenly the vines holding the prisoners began to unwrap themselves and the creatures negating their abilities screamed in pain. Wolverine jumped off of the wall, popping his claws and running at Stryfe. The armoured man rolled across the floor, dodging Wolverine's swipe. He backhanded Wolverine, astonishing him with his strength. With a kick he sent Wolverine skidding across the room. Havok fired a beam at Stryfe, who deflected it with his arm guard, sending the beam flying into Jubilee's chest. Cable ran forward, popping out the Wolverine style claw on his cybernetic arm. Stryfe and Cable clashed their blades together, trying to push one another back. Their blades shattered and the two mutants threw their fists into one another's cheek.
"Cable use your TK" Scott said.
But Cable ignored his father's orders, swinging his cybernetic arm at Stryfe. He easily caught the hand, throwing Cable over his shoulder. Then he slapped Rahne aside and slashed Cyclops's optic beam in half.
"Come on, I know you can all do better than that, show me what your really capable of" Stryfe urged the X-men, brandishing his remaining claw.
Outside the castle, Ka-Zar and Shanna cut their way through the guards of Sinister's prison. They stole the keys and began to free the tribesmen and women locked in the cells. Deadpool continued to shoot at Sam and Tabitha, both of whom hugged one another as the rock they hid behind began to break apart.
"Ah shit, out of ammo…oh well sword time!" Deadpool said as he reached for his swords.
"I DON'T THINK SO!!" Spike yelled as he and Beast ran at the mercenary.
Beast smacked Deadpool across the head, and Spike kicked his legs. The merc with the mouth fell to the floor, widening his eyes as Spike slammed a spear into the ground just inches from his face.
"You helped those bastards in the club, I want you dead…but X-men don't kill" Spike growled.
Deathstrike threw X-23 to the ground, both fatigue from their bloody dual. Rogue slipped off her gloves and grabbed Deathstrike's cheeks. Her powers took effect, causing the woman to scream as she fell into unconsciousness. Rogue clutched her head, the memories flashing through her mind. She shook them aside for a moment to check on X-23. The girl's wounds were thankfully beginning to heal. In the tank, the Hellfire drivers were already beginning to reload, but suddenly the hatch opened and numerous Madrox dupes jumped inside the tank, grabbing and throwing the soldiers out. Tessa shot the dupes in the head, but kept her attention focused on Soldier's hiding place.
"THE LEAST I CAN DO IS KILL YOU BEFORE THE X-MEN GET ME!! Tessa yelled, jumping off the tank and reloading her pistols.
"You don't have anything to worry about in that regard Tessa, the X-men are stronger characters than you think…they wont kill for something as trivial as revenge" Soldier said, grabbing a grenade from his pocket.
He threw the grenade from his hiding spot. It rolled across the ground, exploding a few feet from Tessa's location. The Hellfire club member scoffed at the attempt, but widened her eyes as Soldier ran through the smoke. He slammed his fist into the woman's nose, throwing her to the floor. Kicking her guns aside, Soldier grabbed the woman's leg as she tried to kick him. He swung her round, throwing her onto the tank. Just as she got up, Madrox clones jumped at her, grabbing her arms, legs and even her hair. They held her tightly, pinning her to the ground.
"Good job Jamie, KURT YOU NEED TO TELEPORT INTO THE CASTLE!!!" Soldier yelled.
"I could probably reach the window" Kurt said.
"Wait, I've got a better idea!" Soldier said, eying the tank's cannon.
Ka-Zar and Shanna ran out of the dungeon, leading their people.
"WE ARE FREE! TAKE THE CASTLE! DESTROY THE EVIL!!" Ka-Zar yelled.
The tribesmen cheered as Iceman turned the castle gate into ice and shattered it with a single touch. They ran through the castle, trashing Sinister's labs and offices. Ka-Zar looked to Soldier and nodded his head, appreciating the help he was given this day.
Stryfe blocked another blast from Cyclops, the kicked Jean across the head.
"COME ON CYCLOPS ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME GET AWAY WITH THAT!!!" Stryfe yelled.
Cyclops fired at the ceiling, brining several bricks down on Stryfe. The armoured man burst through the rubble. Wolverine slashed Stryfe across the back and Jubilee blasted him into the wall. But Stryfe punched both X-men aside and deflected a blast from Havok. He rolled across the floor, kneeing Alex in the gut. Then he threw the boy into Shiro.
"Your getting better, show me some of your real power" Stryfe said.
Jean noticed the vicious scratch across Stryfe's back. He hid his fatigue well, but Jean saw it. She lifted several tables off the floor and sent them flying at Stryfe. But he turned around, slashing the tables in half with his remaining claw. Running forward, Stryfe kneed Jean in the chest, then grabbed her hair and threw her into Scott's arms.
"Come on Scott, you know you want to hit me with everything you've got" Stryfe said.
Cyclops growled as he gripped his visor. He could destroy every cell in Stryfe's body with his full power. But he knew who Stryfe was, and he also knew for a fact what the right thing to do was.
"No!" He said.
"WHAT!!" Stryfe yelled.
"YOU HEARD HIM!!!" Wolverine yelled, slashing Stryfe across the back again.
Stryfe swung round, blocking another slash from Wolverine with his claw. But Wolverine slashed Stryfe across the chest, ripping off some of his armour and skin. The man stepped backwards, coughing out puddles of blood. Wolverine prepared himself for another strike, but sheathed his claws and instead punched the man across the face. Stryfe stepped back again, holding his bleeding jaw and preparing another energy blast. But just as he was about to fire and explosion shook the tower and crumbled a section of the wall. Storm flew through the hole in the tower, lifting the other X-men into the tower with a gust of wind. Kurt then teleported into the room with Soldier. They looked in horror at Sinister's body and then at Stryfe as he weakly limped across the floor.
"This is the guy who manipulated the club, he pushed them into attacking us, then he killed a load of people connected to the club including Shaw's son, he was also one of the mercenaries that attacked the mansion, the one in the hockey mask" Wolverine explained.
"I kept an eye on the Reavers by adopting the identity of Nuke, I knew that Deathstrike would try to kill someone so I requested that Josh Foley participate in the siege, and he did his part perfectly" Stryfe laughed. "So come on boys and girls get it over with…punish me" He said.
The X-men merely looked at Stryfe, ignoring his urges.
"I'm a threat that needs to be stopped…I crossed lines, had the club torture you, betrayed the deepest and darkest secrets of your powers"
"The club tortured us, Frost and her students are in prison awaiting a fair trial free from corruption" Ororo said.
"Yeah, Pierce is also in custody and his company has come under S.H.I.E.L.D's control, all of his crimes will be judged too" Soldier added.
"Dude so we got tortured, we're strong we can deal with it" Bobby said, getting a punch across the arm by Jubilee.
"We don't fight for revenge or petty reasons like fame or money" Jean said.
"We fight to achieve a dream of a world united…. we don't care how long it takes, we'll do it our way by teaching and saving one life at a time" Hank said.
"Shaw was shot, anyone who could take over for him is dead and if someone new comes along so what, we'll bring them down" said Rogue.
"Selene is paying for her crimes, I have everything I need and if that is taken away I shall mourn for what was lost and keep moving forward…. that is the path we have to take in order to avoid falling into darkness" Kurt explained.
"We wont kill you Stryfe because we're better then that, we are heroes, X-men and X-men…"
"X-men don't kill" Cable said with Scott.
Stryfe looked at the X-men with wide eyes, he thought he had them pegged. He thought they were just children easily bent and broken, but these X-men were truly incorruptible, at least for now they were.
"Very well, I guess that means I'm done here" Stryfe said with a smile.
"Wait…Josh heal him!" Soldier said.
Stryfe merely laughed before he stood tall, he smiled at the X-men before disappearing in a flash of light. The X-men stared at where he once stood, having faith that they had seen the end of Stryfe. But for Cable the threat would never end, he knew that Stryfe hadn't just come here to destroy the club and test the X-men. Jean and Scott embraced and the X-men finally sighed in relief. Soldier, Wolverine and Cable both looked at one another and nodded their heads, the Hellfire club was destroyed, Sinister and Shaw were dead, Selene was receiving eternal punishment at the hands of the angels and the X-men were back together again. Cable knew that Sinister probably had some kind of contingency plan and Soldier also suspected that Selene would one day break free from her prison and find a way back to the physical world. But as far as the three men were concerned those were threats that would be overcome another day, right now the X-men were safe. Their mission was finally complete.
Next Final Chapter: Moving on
That's it, next up the X-men looked towards the future and bid Cable farewell