Chapter 2
So here we go. Clark sat down in the Professor's office with the Professor, his parents, Colossus and after a quick request which Clark granted, Dr Strange. That's not a surprise that Piotr is here. This is his sister, the last of his family we're talking about.
Dr Strange is only a mild surprise but Clark allowed it because he can verify what Clark is about say.
The Professor begins proceedings. "I think you know why you're here Clark."
"Yes," he replies simply.
"In your own time."
"The story I told when I was abducted was true, Professor," Clark begins. "What I did...and I think you at least, Professor, if not others, suspect this, is that I omitted certain details. When I said I was in Hell I'm sure you all thought I was being metaphorical. I wasn't. I was being literal. I was literally in Hell. Fire, brimstone, demons, the whole thing."
"I don't think I understand, son," Jonathan says.
Clark looks to Dr Strange. "Since I guess you've been talking to Wanda why don't you explain," he requests.
"Very well," Stephen accepts. "Hell is a real place but unlike what most people believe there isn't a single solitary Hell. There was one once but there was a war long ago that shattered it into varying different Hell dimensions ruled by varying demonic Hell Lords."
"The one I was pulled into is called Limbo."
"Ruled by Belasco."
"Was ruled," Clark corrects. "He's dead...but I do believe I did mention him in my story before."
"And now Illyana rules, yes?" Stephen inquires.
"Yes," Clark confirms. "You'll want me to explain about her," he accepts. Especially Piotr. "Piotr," he addresses him. "This will be uncomfortable to hear," he forewarns.
"I need truth," Piotr insists.
"As you wish. I have previously stated Illyana was taken to be forged into the weapon of my destruction. That is true. It relates to the prophecy Dr Strange told me about the Star Child bringing light to the darkness. Illyana was suppose to circumvent that prophecy by killing me. Well when I add that her teacher was a Hell Lord you can begin to grasp the sort of things she was taught. And the sort of things that were done to her."
"Does this relate to her appearance?" Martha asks.
Clark nods. "From how Illyana describes it a demon is a creature with no soul. Would you agree with that description Dr Strange?"
"It's certainly one aspect of a demonic being, yes," Stephen agrees.
Since there is no soft way to say this Clark just says it. "Belasco ripped 3/5ths of Illyana's soul out."
Everyone's eyes go wide and there are muttered curses under many a breath.
"For what purpose?" Dr Strange wants to know, more intensity in his voice.
"Illyana didn't know. All she knew was that he forged the pieces into what are called Bloodstones that he kept in a pendant. It was clearly for a ritual of some sort he was planning one day."
Dr Strange thinks. Souls are so powerful...what kind of dark abomination could Belasco have been planning. "Where is this pendant now?"
"Illyana couldn't find it after Belasco's death. We assume Patricia took it. No doubt for one of her games," Clark says bitterly. He does want to help Patricia but he is not fond of anyone who plays games and manipulates people. Not after what Apocalypse did to him.
"We will deal with Patricia when we can," Charles says, prompting Clark to move the story along.
"Right," Clark says. "Anyway that is the explanation for Illyana's appearance," he returns to. "Every time Belasco removed a piece of her soul dark magic flooded into the void left behind. There is no subtle way to say this, so my apologies Piotr, but your sister is partly demonic now. That form you saw, Belasco called her Darkchylde. She is all the darkness within your sister given form but I would like to state quite clearly that there is goodness still within Yana. I know. I saw it when our minds were linked together. Everything that makes her human is still there. It's just...out of balance which is what I've been trying to help her find. The balance between her 2 halves."
"What is that sword she wields?" Stephen asks, though he has a sense he knows but would like it clarified.
"It's the remains of her soul, her full mystical essence forged into a single blade. It's a weapon of immense power. It is the weapon of my destruction. Hence why I still, to this day, have a scar from it."
"And why was this kept secret? Why didn't you tell us, son?" Jonathan asks.
"Two reasons. One; Illyana was afraid of everyone's reaction...especially her brother's. Afraid of being rejected though I doubt she'll ever admit it. She made me promise not to tell. And to be frank how was it my secret to tell? It was always hers."
"And two?" Jonathan presses.
"My own fear." He looks at his parents. "I was in Hell. Can you imagine what I had to do to survive. Also remember in Selene's dimension...how it felt...like the place was trying to pull the darkness in you to the surface. That is what Limbo is like...only far worse. And remember I had War running around in my head at the time. In Limbo I was trying to fight him off all the time while the dimension tried to pull him to the surface. By the end...before Patricia helped him take over I could barely tell where I ended and he began."
There is a pause there to give people a moment to absorb the information and for Clark to regather his emotions. Having to admit all this takes its toll.
Dr Strange breaks the silence. "I had heard of Darkchylde," he admits. "But I had never met her."
"Be glad you hadn't," Clark mutters. "She's the most dangerous foe you can imagine."
"I recall you claiming she could be our greatest ally," the Professor mentions.
"She can be both...at the same time if she puts her mind to it. Which is why we've...well more I've got to go to Limbo and get her," Clark argues.
"Care to explain," the Professor requests.
"I fear the way Selene forced Darkchylde out has disrupted that balance I was mentioning. If I'm right there's no telling what she could do. My biggest fear would be that the humanity she has left could end up being completely submerged."
"Assuming we can find a way in...and I'm hoping Stephen can help there, Clark...there is no way I would ever allow you to go by yourself," Charles argues with the young man.
"It's better by myself. I know the terrain. I know what it takes to endure the place. Let me repeat Professor, Limbo is Hell. I would never inflict that upon anyone else."
"This is not up for debate Clark," the Professor states quite clearly.
Clark can see he can't argue himself a victory here. "Very well," he accepts. "But can I have some input on who comes?" he requests.
"I don't see that as an unreasonable request," the Professor accepts. "For now can I ask the rest of you to leave so Clark and I can talk privately," he requests of the others.
They depart leaving the telepath alone with the alien teen. Charles brings his hands together atop his desk. "So do you wish to share what is really bothering you, Clark? And why you insist on going alone?" he asks, not needing telepathy only perception. He and Clark have had a lot of sessions since Apocalypse meaning he has gotten pretty good at reading the young man.
Clark takes a few moments as he considers whether he wants to or not. Oh well in for a dime, in for a dollar as the saying goes. "I did speak the truth, Professor. I was in Hell. Can you imagine what I had to do to survive? Do you think I really want anyone to see that part of me? Especially my family? War may be gone but the memories are not. I remember it all like I did it. It's like...like there's a warrior...a soldier inside me. I never wanted to be a soldier but if the circumstances are dire enough that side of me might come out when I don't want it. I don't want it. I wish I could just be rid of it but I can't."
Charles has heard Clark's, lets face it, self-loathing before over his actions as War. The guilt and regret...he's been better at expressing it during their sessions but he has never phrased it like he just did before. In reply he says, "I have seen war, Clark. Close up. With all its brutality and inhumanity so perhaps I cannot understand precisely what you experienced but I can make a pretty good guess. We've discussed this already Clark on some level. We've spoken about trying to come to terms with what you needed to do to survive. Burdening yourself with unnecessary guilt only weighs you down. In the end it will wear you down."
"I didn't really lie. I just didn't mention I was in Hell."
"Well when the search for Illyana is over you can tell the story in full this time, including what you believe the effect on yourself was."
"I told you, Professor. It gave me perspective. Ironically I think that perspective helped me start to move on from Apocalypse."
"We'll discuss that too but for now we should plan on this excursion into Limbo and who should go."
"As you wish," Clark accepts.
Jean wanders the corridors of the new wing of the mansion. She had been catching up with her friends and felt like seeing how the new build was looking since she's not here as often any more.
It was looking pretty good. There wasn't too much damage from that trip into Selene's dimension.
Boy was that a crazy adventure even by X-Men standards.
Course this half cleared up what it was Clark was covering up in regards to Illyana though Jean didn't know the full details as of yet but she's sure eventually she'll hear about it. Nothing stays secret around here for very long.
As Jean ruminates her thoughts around her head she finds herself almost bumping into someone. When she looks who it is it turns out to be her ex-boyfriend...and it doesn't even need a telepath to guess what's on his mind.
Scott had come to the new wing just to find some place quiet to really have a think about everything that has happened and what he learned about Emma...who conveniently didn't stick around long enough for them to talk.
Scott knows he needs to confront her and he also knows that is not a conversation he is going to enjoy. He also knows it just confirms what a lot of people warned him about when he chose to get involved with Emma.
Including his ex-girlfriend whom he just bumped into. And his day just keeps getting better and better.
"Hello Scott," Jean says politely.
"Jean," he acknowledges her before trying to move past her.
"I didn't realise my company was that bad," she observes wryly.
"It's not," Scott tries to assure her.
"Yet you still seem to be desperate to get away from me," Jean points out that he's still trying to move past her. Not easy...especially when she's deliberately getting in the way now. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Emma would it?"
Scott freezes.
"If you think I'm going to say 'I told you so' I really thought you knew me as bigger than that. I told you before Scott I'm still your friend and as your friend I'm here for you." She reaches out and touches his shoulder. "Don't freeze me out," she asks of him. She can feel Scott tense up under her touch as he grapples whether to open up or clam up. In Scott's case either possibility is as likely as the other. He has a fight or flight instinct when it comes to sharing his feelings.
And today flight wins as he manages to skim past Jean and hastily stride away.
Jean watches him go through narrowed green eyes. And to think she use to date that idiot. And yet she still cares for him. Well when he decides he needs to talk she'll be here.
After all that's what it means to be a friend to someone.
After Clark talked to the Professor about who'll be on the team to go to Limbo he knows there is a certain someone he needs to speak to alone first.
That someone being Illyana's brother.
That'll be why he's knocking on the door to Piotr's room. When he's invited in he's not surprised to see the big Russian preparing to be on the mission.
"What brings you here?" Piotr asks.
"Well it's not to avoid the Inquisition from my family I can tell you that," Clark resets to default and cracks a joke. He gets a blank look in return. Clark closes the door and lets out a sigh. "Honestly Piotr we need to talk. I need to express my regret for what I kept secret. I really can't give a full apology since I did give Yana my word I wouldn't tell and I always do my best to keep my word."
"I understand you keeping your word. That is not...no I am not angry at all. Sad, perhaps, that my sister could not trust me."
"She loves you Piotr. That's why she was afraid. Afraid you would stop loving her back if you knew what she had become."
"Then she does not know me."
"I would think, perhaps, it's more she has forgotten. It has been a long time for her and she was just a little girl when she first abducted. For awhile she completely forgot who she was. She could only remember being Darkchylde. I know the feeling," Clark says with a painful expression to match the painful memory he is drudging up.
"I do not understand."
"While I was in Limbo...for awhile I was gone. There was only War. It's kinda hard to explain," Clark tries to.
Piotr says nothing because he can't think of what it is he could say.
"I figured you would want to come," Clark says. "I would tell you to prepare yourself but there is no way to prepare for what you are about to see."
"What do you believe we will find?"
"As I said Yana's internal balance may have been disrupted. I've faced Darkchylde. She hunted me for weeks. I will warn you Piotr if your sister's darkness has taken over again this will be very unpleasant...and that is an understatement but I do believe between us we can reach her and pull her back. There is goodness inside her and I will not let it die. We can and will save your sister no matter what it takes. On that you have my word."
Piotr walks over to Clark and places a powerful hand on the alien teen's shoulder. "Then we shall succeed," he declares, believing that they will save his little snowflake. How can he believe anything else. He just got her back. He's not losing her again.
Clark truly does hope Piotr is right because he would love to ask Yana if what Selene said was true. That she was in love with him. As for his reply...lets just say that his time here hasn't helped in some regards in that he can still be pretty awful at realising and vocalising his feelings. Well he too better get ready.
Academy of Tomorrow, Boston...
Or rather what's left of it. Emma stands near the ruins, just staring at them. Everything she has tried to build, laid waste in a matter of seconds.
And if you think things couldn't be worse you would be so wrong. Almost all her contacts and supporters within the Hellfire Club have gone silent.
Selene, Sebastian and her sister had been very thorough in purging their enemies from within the Club.
As she stood here they were consolidating their power. Having their supporters take up all the important positions of power. If Emma were to even attempt to enter a building owned by the Hellfire Club she doubts even she would survive it.
Everything she had been working for, elevating her position and power until she could get herself into the most prominent position of power...it's all undone.
She's been used and discarded as she has done to others.
Oh she has a way out. She always had a way out. She could disappear easily. Control her business from afar but that's a last resort. She's not that desperate yet.
Her school may be gone but she still has her students...for the most part. She severely doubts she'll ever see Amara and Angelica again...and the others...have less trust in her than they use to. Awkward but manageable.
"It's always surprising isn't it. How easy it is to tear down something which takes you years to build."
Emma frowns. How did she not sense the presence. She turns her head and her eyes spot, "Principal Fine?" she queries of the man.
"Alas no longer."
"Yes. Yes. You were spotted fighting Superman in Bayville as I recall."
'Fine' gives an enigmatic smile. "We all have our secrets. Some of mine might be revealed for a price."
"What price?"
"I require your assistance...and the resources of your company."
"That's asking a lot."
"Ah but I can help restore all that you have lost. Give you the power to crush your enemies. Avenge this," 'Fine' tempts her, holding his arm out at the ruins of her school.
Emma looks intently at him, trying to probe his mind and getting nowhere. He was blocking her at every turn.
"You know I do believe to be considered civilised you ask permission before you attempt to read one's mind," Fine politely chastises her.
Emma blinks. It's not usual for someone to detect her probes. She doesn't apologise for being caught. Instead she asks, "And what exactly do you need my company for?"
"Without your prior agreement I am afraid I cannot reveal more. Be assured though I can do everything I promise to restore what you have lost. Think it over. I'll be back," 'Fine' tells her before he vanishes in a gust of wind.
The Sanctum Sanctorum…
Is where the small team(at Clark's insistence it be small) of X-Men have gathered. The team consisted of Superman, Colossus, Cyclops, Jean and Wolverine with Dr Strange providing the mystical leadership.
It was he that insisted they come here and as they walk the every changing hallways he begins to explain why.
"As you may notice the Sanctum lies at a major intersection of many roads," Stephen states. "This is more than just mere physical fact. This location was deliberately chosen as it is a mystical nexus point."
"Which means what?" Wolverine asks in his growly voice.
The group reach a door. Stephen places his hand on the knob. "It means this," he says as he opens the door.
Mouths hang agape as they look into a vast, almost limitless seeming space, criss-crossed by what appears to be the thick twisted trunks of trees.
"Follow me," Stephen instructs as he steps out the door onto the branch with the rest of the group following. As they walk they spot what appears to be an endless number of vortexes...almost like the one Isobel created to breach into the pocket dimension.
"What is all this?" Cyclops asks.
"The Sanctum stands on a dimensional nexus," he begins to explain. "All these are doorways into every dimension and realm. It is my duty and the duty of all those that follow me to ensure these doorways remain sealed and protected from any dark force that may try to enter our world."
"And therefore one of these leads into Limbo," Superman understands.
"Precisely. It's easier than trying to force our way in."
"No wonder Belasco coveted Yana," Superman says.
"What was that Superman?" Stephen asks.
"Illyana. Her mutant power is teleportation. Her stepping disks are connected to Limbo somehow. It's where she always teleports through when she moves from one place to another. I remember Patricia saying that is where they always led to and that sooner or later Illyana would end up there. She just accelerated the process...in what was her so-called defence for what she did," he says that last part still a little bitterly.
Stephen strokes his beard. Interesting. He will have to ponder the ramifications of that. Of the fact Illyana can bypass the normal barriers that separate Earth from Limbo. It surely can't have been good whatever Belasco was planning.
The group arrive outside the portal to Limbo.
Dr Strange begins to cast the spell to open it fully and allow passage to the other side. A mystical beam of energy erupts from his hand into the centre of the portal.
The portal fizzes and expands...then convulses, lighting sparks across its surface...which then erupts outward and strikes Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, sending him flying.
Superman blurs and catches the man before he falls over the edge. "You alright?" he asks.
"I am fine, thank you," Stephen replies as he regain his own feet and brushes himself down.
"What was that?" Cyclops asks.
"It seems Illyana has anticipated our attempt to enter her realm and has sealed it off. As the Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo she controls that side of the portal. It seems indeed we are going to have to try and force our way in," Stephen announces.
"Then what are ya waiting for?" Wolverine asks impatiently. "Get on with it."
"Alas I did not do that to begin with because such a task is not easy. It will take me some time to prepare for that."
"Well this is sorta anti-climatic," Superman remarks at the situation. They get dressed up, come all this way and nothing.
"Oh Kal-El. If there's one thing I've never been accused of it's not bringing the men in my life to satisfactory climaxes," a voice says with all he suggestiveness one might guess.
Everyone spins round as standing there, having appeared from nowhere is the white-skinned, white-haired, dressed all in black, chief manipulator of Clark's life.
"Black Swan," he says though slightly gritted teeth.
The woman smirks.
Clark knows that smirk and he can tell ya it's never good.
Author's Note: As you may recall I did a cameo where an older Clark becomes Cable and the question is how does he, of all people, turn into a soldier. The answer is that thanks to War that soldier is within Clark already. It's the circumstances of Cable's future that allows it to surface and become dominant. Clark is still trying to find a way to deal with what Apocalypse did to him. Now what does Brainiac want with Emma? Nothing good is the short answer. And oh lookie, Black Swan is back. That's not to the good either. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Black Swan offers her help that just may get the gang to Limbo.
