Chapter 47

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Quote from the poem 'To a Mouse' by Robert Burns, 1785

It was a few days after the trip to Boston that it happened. Clark was simply sitting having breakfast. As usual he was up almost before anyone else. He was chewing over events. Rogue was still a little mad at him for the way Roulette threw herself at him. It wasn't like Clark didn't try to get rid of her. He did but she just wouldn't leave him alone the whole freakin day. He lost count of how many different ways she 'propositioned' him. So not his type even if he was single which he isn't. He loves Rogue. She has to trust him that that is without question.

The other thing Clark was chewing over was this Arcade who almost killed the New Mutants several times over if their story is accurate. It really bothered Clark. Why didn't he notice that the Prankster had a sidekick of some sort? Did he just catch Loomis and then tried to wash his hands of it without making sure he knew the full story?

Clark hopes that isn't the case. That wouldn't make him a very good journalist and an even worse supposed hero. Maybe he needs a different perspective on it. Someone not around here day to day. Perhaps he should phone Chloe and talk to her about it...or that was what Clark was thinking when it happened. The radio in the kitchen was on when a breaking news story interrupted the usual breakfast show.

"Breaking announcement this morning is the death of Virgil Swann. The reclusive billionaire, who made his fortune through satellite communications, passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long illness his assistant, Bridgette Crosby, announced this morning in a statement. He will be remembered as one of the leading philanthropists of his generation. Along with starting the Swann Chartable Foundation, he generously funded a wing at the National History Museum. He withdrew from public life after the horse riding accident that left him paralysed but in private dedicated his time to searching for signs of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. His last contribution was a rare public statement calling for calm and understanding in the wake of the revelation of the existence of mutants and that his Foundation would now work towards cultivating understanding between mutants and humans. Today the world will remember his many contributions and will hope to benefit from his gifts for many generations to come. Today we grieve the loss of a great man who believed anything was possible and believed man could not only fly but soar to achieve great things."

Charles had been truly stunned to hear the news this morning. He knew Virgil had been ill but his death was still a complete shock. Charles felt much grief and sadness for the loss of his friend.

"I don't understand," Clark says and he looks like he doesn't understand this at all. "I just talked to him last week," he says with much sorrow. Dr Swann had been someone Clark could pose all sort of questions about Krypton to, that wasn't Jor-El and Clark didn't have to worry about being brainwashed.

Clark was in the Professor's office along with his parents as they digested along with the Professor what this meant now Dr Swann had passed on.

Jonathan puts a caring hand on his son's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Clark. Truly I am," he says sympathetically and he was. Dr Swann was an outlet for Clark's questions about his home and he knew how important that was to his son.

"We both are," Martha adds as she bends down and hugs her son.

"There was still so much I needed to ask him. He's been helping with the search for the stones."

"We can be thankful for everything he did pass on to you," Martha says, trying to help Clark see the positive. He never takes death of someone close to him well. Always blames himself even when there is not possibly anything even he, for all his power, could have done.

"D-did he have any family?" Clark wonders, a little ashamed he doesn't know. Surely after all he and Dr Swann talked about he should have asked such a simple question at some point.

"He has a daughter, Patricia," Charles recalls. "She would be in...college by now I would think."

Clark lowers his head and feels sorrow for what she must be going through this morning. Martha strokes his hair, trying to console Clark. "What about everything Dr Swann knows?" she asks, worried that whatever Dr Swann had in his possession about Clark may fall into the wrong hands.

"I trust Virgil to have made plans over that," Charles says with faith in his dear old friend to make sure all of that will be secure and safe. Although to be certain he will try and contact Bridgette as soon as he can.

There is a knock at the door and Domino enters with the morning mail. She resists making her usual jokes considering the glum mood. "There's something here for Clark," she mentions.

Clark looks up, puzzled expression on his face, as Domino hands him over the envelope. He recognises the address. "It's from Dr Swann," he says. Clark tears it open and inside he finds a letter written in Kryptonian. He reads it out. "Kal-El. I wish I could continue your journey with you but I regret I shall not be able to. My path is almost at its end. Yours has so much more ahead of you. I give you one last gift. Let it lead you to the truth and discover your destiny."

Inside the envelope is another piece of paper. Clark pulls it out and instantly he can tell it is old. Very old. He unfolds it. It is an elaborately decorated script written in Chinese. Clark had taught himself the language during his search for the stones.

"What is it Clark?" Charles inquires.

Clark's brow furrows with deep ridges. "It tells a story of a great God descending from the sky and entrusting a sacred relic to the Emperor."

"That sounds like the story about the stone we think is in China," Charles observes.

"Yeah...only this is different. It actually names the place," Clark says, his voice gaining an urgency. He places the document on the desk and points at the border. "Also, Kryptonian script all the way round."

Charles leans forward and can see it. The same set of symbols repeated all the way round. "What does it say Clark?"

"It's just the same thing repeated over and over. 'Look deeper'."

"Wow. Enlightening," Dom rolls off sarcastically.

Clark has a sudden hunch and activates his x-ray vision and looks through the paper and sees it. Sees underneath is a map dominated by the image of a river and at one of the junctures of the branches is a picture of a temple. Probably the one named in the document. "It's the map," he says in a hushed, shocked tone.

"Map?" Jonathan queries.

"You know the map," Clark replies. "The one we've been searching for, for weeks. It's hidden under the document. I can see it with my x-ray vision."

"Dr Swann had it?" Martha inquires, confused about that. How did he get it? How long has he had it? Questions they will never get answer to now in all likelihood.

"I need a pen, paper," Clark says urgently. The Professor hands him both from his desk drawer and at superspeed Clark draws what he has seen for everyone else to see. Everyone present leans forward and scopes out Clark's drawing.

Charles picks the drawing up. This is the breakthrough they've been hoping for...and no-one else can possibly have what must be a unique document. They can get there before SHIELD, Isobel and Magneto.

"This seems a little convenient don't it?" Domino throws a dose of scepticism into proceedings. "The very thing we've been looking for suddenly appears in our lap."

"We'll have Hank double check it," Charles decides. "We have to be sure it's authentic before we go off on some wild goose chase."

"As long as it's not a wild chicken chase I'll be good," Dom adds and that earns her a strange look from the other 4 people present in the room.

The Academy of Tomorrow...

Since she had been staying Isobel had gotten herself a private room at Emma's Academy. Now, in her private space, Isobel sits cross-legged in deep meditation as she centres her power. Her eyes move under her lids as images start to flutter through her brain as she has a vision. She can see a distant land. A temple. Clark. He holds something in his hand. He raises his hand and within is a silver misshapen object on which is a symbol that resembles a figure of 8...

Isobel gasps sharply as her eyes snap open. "Non! Non, non, non, non, non. Vous n'obtenez pas cette pierre, Clark!" (Translates to "No! No, no, no, no, no. You're not getting that stone, Clark!")

Isobel is to her feet instantly and running through the halls of the Academy until she reaches Emma's office. She barges in.

"Please don't knock first," Emma drones off a sarcastic comment from her position behind her desk as she looks over her student's latest test papers.

"I don't have time for that Frost!" Isobel snaps, extremely agitated. "I had a vision. We need to leave now!"

"Leave?" Emma asks with a frown. "Leave for where?"

"China."

"China?"

"In my vision I saw him in China with the stone."

"Saw who? What stone?"

"Superman!" Isobel cries in exasperation. "We have to stop him! He can't have that stone!" she says in desperation.

Emma remains perfectly calm. If Isobel is this agitated perhaps she can get some answers she couldn't before. "If we go that would ruin everything I started a few days ago," she calmly points out since stopping Superman would obviously mean fighting him.

"That doesn't matter now!" Isobel cries. "If he gets that stone it's over!"

Emma leans back in her chair, resting her hands on her lap. "I'm going to need much more than that before I ruin what is also your mother's plan by the way."

Isobel glares at the woman. They don't have time for this. "Fine," she spits out, conceding she has to make Frost see the importance of leaving. "The power Superman is the key to are 3 mystical stones that when combined give you the power of the ancients, the power of the Gods, that created them. Somehow, I don't know how precisely, he is linked to them. He already has one he stole from me. Once he has two he can use them to find the 3rd almost instantly and the power will then be his. Do you think it a good idea he gain such power before we have him in our possession?"

Emma frowns deeply. "No," she concedes.

"You're right in this will ruin our previous plan but to hell with it! Read my lips Frost; Superman must not get that stone no matter what. Select a team, put them on a jet and lets get going."

"Very well," Emma accepts this must be done.

Isobel nods satisfied and heads to the door to prepare herself for the battle ahead. Without her book and her traitorous sister witches it will be much harder to tackle Clark than before.

Emma stops Isobel before she leaves. "You'll have to tell your mother," she points out. No way can Emma keep this secret and she is not taking the blame.

Isobel stands stock still and swears a few old French curses. Frost is correct. She will have to tell her mother. She makes a pensive, almost fearful face. Her mother will not take this well...at all.

At one of Magneto's bases...

Magneto stands at the bedside of Suzanna Dane. She was still in her coma but he had begun his retribution upon those responsible for placing her here. He takes her right hand into his own and strokes it gently with his fingers. Many accuse him of being cold hearted which up to a point they are correct. He has had to harden his heart to survive the hardships he has had to endure in his life. That doesn't mean he doesn't feel and he did feel a lot once for this woman who now lies in this state of limbo.

Magneto would come here as often as he could spare the time and talk to Suzanna, tell her of their daughter. Lorna was...Magneto smiles as he thinks of his daughter. Lorna was a wonderful gift. She was a wonderful girl. All any father could ask for in a daughter. He had been teaching her control of her magnetic powers and she was showing a remarkable natural affinity for it all. Her progression was remarkable. He might even consider letting her stand by his side soon on missions.

Speaking of missions he had one in the planning that should fall within the Brotherhood's limited abilities to perform. They were already moving into place so weren't here currently. It was nothing overly complicated. It was more to get them into a position to act for when the mutant uprising would begin. All Magneto lacked was the power granted within the 3 stones. Once he had that the war could begin.

Just then the door to this private room he had set up for Suzanna opens. Magneto doesn't even turn to look. "I gave orders never to be disturbed when I'm here," he says, his voice cold and angry.

"It's important. It's the blind girl. She's babbling something about Superman. You wanted to know if she ever did that."

Magneto now turns his head to see Sabretooth at the door. Yes he did want to know that. He bends his head and places a kiss on the back of Suzanna's hand. He lays her hand back down before he turns and departs. He walks through his base until he comes to a secure room. He opens the door with a wave of his hand. Inside, sitting on the floor, is a slender 12 year old girl, with long dark hair, and a wrapping of bandages over her non-existent eyes. She had been born without eyes or eye sockets. The wrapping was more for other people's comfort. Because of this though she has picked up the nickname amongst his followers of 'Blindfold'. Magneto can hear her whispering to herself from here.

"See. Babbling," Sabretooth says as if this proves him right.

Magneto actually rolls his eyes. "She's a precog Victor. She sees the world in ways you can't imagine and tries to interpret that as best she can," he essentially tells Sabretooth off. Magneto walks over to the girl and sits himself down on the floor so they are face to face. "Hello Ruth," he says to Ruth Aldine, who as best as he can figure out is Destiny's granddaughter. He was in fact looking for Irene Adler when he stumbled upon her.

The girl raises her head. "Yes, no, I saw you come. Excuse me. I beg your pardon, is that rude to know that?"

Magneto had quickly discovered upon finding her that Ruth had developed unusual speaking patterns and mannerisms. It seemed she might possess a gift of clairvoyance as good, if perhaps not better, than Irene herself. It makes him curious as to why Irene never found her first. It's possible, just possible, that being a relative made Ruth invisible to Irene's vision. Ruth was invisible to telepaths which is why she was locked in this room, otherwise she could vanish easily and he doesn't want that. "It's not rude Ruth. Tell me of Superman."

"Superman, star of light, so bright, so bright, he seeks here, he seeks there, that which remains of all he has lost. In his hand I see a glimpse of light shining, shiny metal. 1 of 3. That's what I see. Thank you."

That sounds like one of the stones. Does that mean Superman has found it or will find it soon? "Is this happening now Ruth or is this yet to come?" Magneto asks.

"What is then will soon be now or is now, yes, no, please be there to stop them."

"Stop? Stop who Ruth?"

"The 2 Queens. One of black and one of white. You're welcome."

Magneto's face instantly grows dark and hard as he recognises the significance of her words. Black Queen. White Queen. The Hellfire Club. It's been 20 years but he remembers them well. If they're involved in this then the whole situation is much more serious and urgent than he had thought. He gently takes the girl by the arms. "Ruth. Where? Where are they?"

"Trouble, please. Lots of trouble. Lots of players all in one place. The temple, thank you, far to the east near upon the sea."

Sabretooth snorts. "She nuts," he says gruffly, dismissing the girl's words as incoherent rambling.

Magneto scowls. "Not at all," he contradicts the large hairy mutant. "Upon the sea is the exact translation of Shanghai. I know where it is, what she sees." Because he's read it in Lionel Luthor's journal. He had been looking for a map about that but it seems someone must have beat him to it. Who does not matter now. "Thank you Ruth," he says to the girl gratefully. He'll remember to make sure she gets a reward. Magneto rises to his feet. "Gather the Acolytes," he commands. "We have a long trip to make."

"Trip? To where?" Sabretooth asks.

"To where she said. We're going to China."

Magneto and Sabretooth depart, the door slides shut leaving Blindfold sitting all alone in her room. She raises her head and speaks. "Beware the two Queens and the ghost for in battle one shall fall into their grasp. Be turned to darkness' wiles. Betrayal will beget betrayal. Conflagration, struggle, outcome cannot be seen. Who shall rise and who shall fall? No answer I can give. Too many crossing lines. Too much uncertainty. Life is chaos. Thank you, please and you're welcome."

At the Institute...

Beast had been examining the document and when he x-rayed it what Clark saw became visible. He can only give the document a limited examination but from what he knows it looks to be the correct age and type of paper used in that time period it is meant to be from...although it is in suspiciously remarkable condition for its age.

Afterwards the X-Men gather down in the lab room where all the research into the stones is kept. Considering the urgent nature of this they had been allowed to skip school today.

"So are we like going to China or what?" Kitty asks, excited by the prospect.

Hank takes the small round glasses off his face and cleans them. "It is not that simple. I looked up the temple mentioned in the document. It is still there but this map makes no sense. There is no river there."

"Has there every been a river there?" Charles asks. One that has been subsequently been diverted or dried up.

Hank shakes his head. "Not as far as I can tell. The temple has also been examined many times over the years...including a survey funded by Luthorcorp."

"Lionel's been there?" Clark queries that, worried by that idea.

"Yes," Beast confirms. "But from what I can find no-one found anything noteworthy enough or stone shaped," he can lessen the worry there.

"If Lionel could not find it perhaps it is not there," Ororo proposes as a possibility.

"Or maybe it is just hidden well enough that only I can find it," Clark suggests. "They were meant to be able to be found by me as far as I can get the impression from what Jor-El put in my head so therefore it has to be within my capabilities."

"It wouldn't hurt ta look," Rogue says.

The Professor carefully considers this. "We would have to be careful. I doubt we would get the Chinese government's permission to look around and even if we were to ask that would take time we don't have. If we get caught violating their territory...it won't be good for any kind of positive relationship with the Chinese authorities."

Domino scoffs. "Screw them," she puts it bluntly. "The whole power balance of the world is at stake. I think that justifies us breaking a few laws."

"For once I agree with Jinx," Logan says, looking surprised he is saying that.

The Professor looks to Scott. "What's your view Scott?"

Scott takes a moment to consider. "We did agree to do what it took to find these stones because we saw they couldn't fall into anyone's hands but Clark's. Even if, as Beast is hinting at, it may not be there, we can sneak in, have a look just to be certain and be out before anyone knows we're there. Maybe we'll at least find a clue."

"Thank you Scott," Clark says gratefully. "But if necessary I'll go myself. You guys don't have to risk getting involved."

"Thanks for the offer Clark but we agreed to be in this with you."

"Besides how would you get there?" Evan asks, with an amused expression.

"You're flying sucks," Kurt adds with a jovial expression as he lightly teases his friend.

"It's...it's, uh, improving," Clark weakly argues.

"Really?" Dom asks sceptically. "That why there's a Clark shaped dent in the Danger Room ceiling because you're so good now," she sarcastically comments with a cheeky grin. "If that's what you call improving then you're as sane as Deadpool."

"Hey!" Clark protests. "There's no need to be insulting," he says huffing a little. Comparing him to Deadpool is just mean.

"So are we going?" Jean asks as she looks at her boyfriend, with whom she has more or less made up after their fight about Emma.

"Yes. We are," Scott replies. "X-Men suit up and head for the hangar. We're leaving in 20," he orders.

SHIELD Hellicarrier...

Fury always keeps track of what the X-Men are up to so when their jet is spotted leaving Bayville he gets a report of it placed in front of him.

Recently SHIELD has started placing in orbit satellites designed to detect magnetic fluctuations in an attempt to get around whatever shielding technology Magneto uses to hide from them. If they couldn't see him then maybe they could pick up on the magnetic fields he generates and track him that way.

And wouldn't you know it. One of the satellites got a hit of magnetic flux in motion. Most likely Magneto flying in those metal spheres of his.

Now it could be a coincidence, he got these 2 separate reports at the same time, only Fury had noticed something about the two headings both the X-Men and Magneto seem to be taking. He demands both courses are extrapolated and above him of the large screen at the front of the Hellicarrier's command deck the two lines come to the same place, just outside Shanghai.

Fury closes his good eye and silently swears to himself.

"Why are they going there? We've searched that temple already and found nothing," Fury's 2nd, Lt Maria Hill, points out.

Fury opens his eye and stares at the map. "Why is the question? Unless they know something we didn't then and don't now."

"They know where the stone is?"

"That's going to be my assumption," Fury decides. Question is what does he do about it. Two superpowered teams in the same place and the Avengers aren't ready. Banner is still only in the testing phase of possibly reviving Captain America. Stark still hasn't gotten back to him yet. "Ant-Man and Wasp are here at the moment aren't they?" he asks Hill to remind him.

"Yes sir. Agents Barton and Romanova are giving them some basic training," Hill describes where they are.

"Tell Widow and Hawkeye to suit up, get down to the hangar and bring Pym and Van Dyne with them," Fury decides that he needs all the help he can get.

"Is that wise, sir?" Hill questions. Using superpowered civilians is bad enough in her opinion. Untrained ones is worse.

"Probably not," Fury concedes. "Do it anyway. Get a squad ready to go...no in fact get 3 squads ready to go and Carter's back as well today isn't she?"

"Yes sir."

"Order her down to the hangar too," Fury decides to use every asset he has.

"Yes, sir," Hill replies obediently. It doesn't matter she doesn't entirely agree. She does her job.

Janet Van Dyne almost died once. An accident in Hank's lab caused by someone trying to steal Hank's research. She survived but the accident had exposed her to his, at the time, experimental Pym particles. As a result, afterwards, she found she could shrink down and would grow these little wings on her back that allowed her to fly. Hank made her these gloves that fired bio-electric 'stings' for one purpose. To get back at the people responsible, for her father had also been there at the time and he didn't survive.

Hank helped her do it and in the process became Ant-Man as he created his own red and black suit that allowed him to shrink down or grow giant along with the helmet that allows him to talk to insects.

Afterwards, once they caught the people responsible, Janet would occasionally go out, beat up criminals, let her hair down, that sort of thing even if Hank hated the idea. He's a pacifist. Somewhere along the way she ended up being called 'The Wasp' due to probably the little strapless black and yellow dress she wears over black tights with yellow boots and the yellow antenna like headpiece she wears over her ears. The gloves she wore that fired her stings were also yellow.

The thing is it had started to eat at Jan a little. She had these powers but had no idea what use to really put them to until Fury came along with his 'Avengers Initiative'. Here was a way to use her powers and now here she was on the SHIELD Hellicarrier on her way to her 1st ever mission.

Janet was shrunk down and flying along beside Hank as they were escorted by Black Widow and Hawkeye to the hangar. She is very excited about going on her first mission. "Can you believe it Hank? We're going on a mission. Ooh, ooh I can't wait to knock that stupid helmet off Magneto's head!"

Hank rolls his eyes and silently groans. She won't stop talking about this for days...assuming they don't die horribly.

Behind Hank and Janet, Hawkeye chuckles at the child-like enthusiasm of Janet. "I think she's excited," he says to Natasha.

Natasha just gives him a look that makes most people run away from her as fast as possible. It never works on Clint. On the way to the hangar they are joined by Sharon Carter, dressed much like Black Widow, only Sharon's uniform is all white. "Agent Carter," Natasha acknowledges the presence of her fellow agent.

"Agent Romanova," Sharon acknowledges back.

"So finally back from the land of teenage sleepovers and underwear parties eh?" Clint jokes to Sharon, with a totally amused expression, about the assignment she had been on to infiltrate the X-Men.

Sharon arches an eyebrow. "If I were to kill him would you report me?" she asks Natasha.

"I would conveniently neglect to mention it," Natasha says dryly.

Clint rolls his eyes. "I try to add some much needed humour around here and this is the thanks I get," he complains. "No offence but I'm sitting next to Janet on the flight." He increases his pace leaving Black Widow and Agent 13 behind.

"Are you actually dating him?" Sharon asks Natasha about a rumour she had heard.

Natasha's usually stoic face melts a little into a touch of sadness. "We tried. Lets just say I get why Agent Morse ended their relationship," she says and a touch of sadness can almost be heard in her tone. Lets just say for the moment she was back to having only a professional relationship with Clint.

"Uh huh. I heard she's taking the courses to be assigned to special agent status," Sharon mentions in regards to Agent Bobbi Morse.

"Yes," Natasha confirms about Agent Morse. "I believe she will pass them quite easily," she gives her totally unbiased opinion.

"Ah well. If she does that'll mean we might get a day off and she can risk her life on suicide missions every other Tuesday," Sharon says and one corner of her lips starts to quirk at the joke she made.

A tiny crack of a smile comes to Natasha's face.

In the hangar Janet flies inside all the way to the cockpit of the jet and is surprised by whom she finds piloting the craft. "Carol?"

Carol Danvers looks at the tiny figure hovering a few inches in front of her nose. "Hello Jan."

"You're our pilot?" Janet asks with a befuddled expression at this.

Carol sighs. "This is my job Janet. Not all of it is about espionage or fighting supervillains. There's a lot of mundane tasks that have to be done...which you'll find out after this when you have to do the paperwork."

Janet's expression becomes stricken. "Paperwork!" she chokes. Does she remotely look like someone who enjoys doing paperwork?

"That comes later," Fury's gravelly voice echoes from behind. "Now sit down and strap yourself in Wasp. This is going to be bumpy."

Janet flies back, grows back to her normal size and straps herself into one of the chairs along the side.

Carol does the preflight as the jet rises to the runway atop the Hellicarrier before announcing. "Anyone with a weak stomach prepare to lose it," she promises. With that she fires up the jet which shoots off into the air, joined by another loaded with more SHIELD agents, as they head to China knowing they have some catching up to do. Carol grins. She loves a challenge.

Outside Shanghai...

The x-jet touches down softly outside the temple. There are a few guards about but the Professor is psychically hiding the group from them. They have a quick peruse around the grounds before heading inside. There are nicely tended gardens and a small lake beside the building. Domino makes her obligatory joky remark.

As they head inside Beast recites a little of what he learned about the temple on his study on the flight over. "While during the culture revolution many ancient temples were destroyed this one was in fact protected for unknown reasons. There are many superstitions surrounding it. Apparently many of the locals are afraid to even cross the threshold should they incur the wrath of the God of the temple when he returns as he promised."

"You feeling particularly wrathful Clark?" Kitty teases with a wide smirk, knowing that the so-called God of this temple was probably a Kryptonian, like Clark, and Kitty know how much it irritates him to be called a God so score one for her on their continual little contest of trying to annoy each other.

"Normally no but for you Kitty I can make an exception," he says with an out of place happy go lucky smile.

Kitty sticks her tongue out at him.

"Have your people ever returned here Clark?" Storm asks, while admiring the beautiful surroundings.

"From one of the last conversations I had with Dr Swann we believe they did every so often. The stones are the entire history of my race so it would be deemed important to check up on their safety now and again."

They step inside the temple, well the Professor rolls inside. It is lavishly decorated and on many pillars are a mixture of Chines symbols and Kryptonian ones.

"Do these symbols mean anything Clark?" the Professor wonders.

Clark frowns as he reads it. "It's gibberish," he dismisses it as.

"Perhaps they just used the symbols as decoration without understanding the meaning," Beast proposes as a plausible explanation.

They reach the heart of the temple where there is a big metal, possibly bronze, statue up against the wall sitting in a cross-legged position.

"Is zhat suppose to be zhe God of zhis temple?" Kurt asks in relation to the figure.

Beast examines the style. "I think more it is suppose to be the Emperor. No doubt trying to elevate himself up to near Godhood in the eyes of his subjects."

Clark looks around. There is a circular door at one end to the left that leads off to another part of the temple. To the right there is a circular alcove, probably just to mirror the door. That is when he spots it. He walks rapidly over to the alcove and fingers the design on it. In the centre there is the figure of 8 within the diamond that represents air. "This is the symbol of the stone," he announces.

Everyone gathers around as Clark activates his x-ray vision. "There's something behind this," he reports.

"It's a door?" Rogue asks.

"Do we blast through?" Evan asks.

"No," Beast says instantly in reply. "No blasting." They are not here to destroy anything.

Clark pushes at the wall which slides backward. He then simply rolls it to the left. Inside, behind the cobwebs, is a red silken top with a familiar yet different image. It resembles the map but not. On the back wall there is a gruesome looking mask. Suddenly the eyes of it open and a green glow bathes Clark in its light. The eyes are two fixed pieces of kryptonite. The overwhelming pain and nausea strikes Clark down almost immediately.

"Logan! Beast!" the Professor calls urgently.

The two men leap forward and grab Clark before he topples over and pull him away. He grasps at his chest and takes several deep gasps of breath. He never expected kryptonite to be here, hence he never activated the switch on his belt that makes the material of his costume able to block the radiation. "I'm ok. I'm ok," he assures them as the effects begin to wear off now he is away from the deadly poison.

Rogue comes to his side with worry etched into her features.

"If the stone was left for Clark why is there kryptonite here?" Jean asks. It didn't make sense that they would protect it with the one substance that is fatal to Kryptonians. After all, like Clark said, his people have probably returned time and again to check up on the stone. Nope. Jean can't see how it makes any sense.

"Another test?" Kitty suggests.

"Stupid test," Rogue snaps angrily.

The Professor turns his worry from Clark and his attention to what has been found. He rolls forward and pulls out from his pocket the copy they made of the map. He holds it up and compares. On the map it looks like a river. On the top it is clearly sewn as a tree. "The branch of the river that is not a river," he murmurs the clue on the whereabouts of the stone.

"What was that Charles?" Ororo asks him.

"It's not a river the clue was talking about. It's a tree," he explains pointing at the image.

Clark has recovered but keeps his distance. He can observe it from here well enough. The other X-Men gather in closer and look at the silken top to see the Professor is correct. It is a tree, not a river.

"Where is the stone then?" Scott asks. "It's not here is it?"

"In the temple? No," Charles would say.

"No wonder no-one has been able to find it," Jean figures out. "They all thought it was somewhere in here."

"But like where is it then?" Kitty asks.

"From this perspective the background goes on for miles," Jean would conclude. Where would they even start?

"Or not," Clark speaks up as something occurs to him.

Everyone turns to look at him.

"What if the artist who made the drawing was drawing exactly what he saw from where the stone is. From where it is buried."

"Buried at the root of the river that is not a river," Rogue reels off the clue.

"It's buried at the root of the tree from which the temple appears to be at the juncture of the branch like it is depicted here," Hank draws the next conclusion.

"That's very good. I guess you're all smarter than I gave you credit for," a heavily French accented voice says from behind them.

Everyone spins on the spot.

Clark gasps in surprise at whom he sees. "Isobel?"

Isobel, dressed in a Chinese outfit, black with elaborate patterns upon it and a red lining, smiles. "I told you we would meet again another day," she reminds them of her words when last they met. Her smile grows wider and more insane looking. "Today's that day," she announces.

Logan growls and pops his claws. "Lady you're beyond stupid coming here by yourself."

Isobel laughs haughtily. "Foolish animal," she insults Logan. "Whoever said I was here by myself?"

Behind Isobel there is a...mist of dark energy that forms. When it begins to dissipate several figures become visible.

"Emma?" Scott queries in surprise. What does Emma have to do with Isobel?

"Hello Scott," Emma says coldly, ice-coldly. With her she has brought King Bedlam, M, Hellion, Bevatron, Beef, Tarot, Roulette, Firestar and Volcana. Her brightest, best and most powerful.

There is also someone else. The Hellions pull apart as from behind them another woman, with an exotic Mediterranean look, strides forward. She is tall with long black hair. She is dressed all in tight black leather. Boots, pants, a vest top off the shoulder and long fingerless black gloves on her arms. There is also just this aura of great darkness around her. She comes to stand next to Isobel.

Isobel speaks. "May I introduce you to Selene Gallio, my mother."

"M-Mothah?" Rogue stutters out.

"B-But you're like 400 years old!" Kitty cries in denial of how that can be.

Selene laughs darkly. "Foolish child," she chastises Kitty. "I am over 30 centuries old."

Everyone goes wide-eyed at that revelation.

Selene's gaze falls upon Clark, a dark smile of anticipation forms. A smile that promises much suffering. This is why she came, after all, upon hearing of her daughter's vision. Not much could get her to expend this sort of energy teleporting but the chance to come to face to face with the son of her hated enemy and gain her revenge could. "I have been looking forward to this meeting...son of Jor-El."

Complete, total and utter shock comes to Clark's face.

"Oh yes, I knew your father well," Selene answers the next question. "I can see him in you. I can sense the same power flowing through you. It sickens me!" she says, sounding very much disgusted. "And for every crime he committed against me you shall pay a hundred fold in his stead. You will kneel before me son of Jor-El and beg for mercy!" Selene darkly promises.

Clark blinks before leaning over to Rogue and whispering to her, "Assuming we survive this remind me to have a long talk with Jor-El about things I need to know." Because this raises a hundred questions Clark feels he needs to have answers to.

Rogue nods in agreement as goose pimples break out on her skin. The hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and that is just being in the presence of this woman. There is something about her that chills you down to the soul.

Superman strides forward a pace or two. "Look...Selene, whatever my father did, there is no reason for us to have any animosity between us," Clark tries to be reasonable.

One corner of Selene's mouth curve's up in dark amusement at his attempt to reason with her. "I think you'll find there is. I have been wronged and I need penance."

"Would it make any difference if I said I don't even get on with my father?"

"Only if you drop to your knees, recognise me as your superior, pledge your eternal worship and servitude and then hand over the 3 stones to myself."

Isobel coughs, annoyed and gives her mother a small glare.

"Myself and my daughter," Selene amends.

Superman's head drops slightly. He can't do that obviously. "It's going to be one of those days isn't it?" he murmurs to himself. He takes a breath and raises his head to look at Selene in the eye. "I'm afraid I have to politely refuse your terms."

"Then I'm afraid I have to politely make you suffer in ways you cannot begin to imagine."

Cyclops moves forward as do the other X-Men, all tensed and ready. "Then I'm afraid you'll have to go through us," Cyclops tells Selene.

Selene looks at him as one might look a bug you were about to gleefully squash. "You are beneath my attention. Frost. Deal with these pests," she commands with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Emma glares hard, spiteful at being given orders. "Hellions," she begins to say...only to stop as the outer wall behind her explodes inward, showering her in debris.

The dust clears.

"Magneto!" Charles exclaims in shock at who he sees. Magneto and his Acolytes. Gambit, Colossus, Live Wire, Sandman, Sabretooth, Pyro, Ruckus...and to add some extra muscle he had brought Frenzy along as well. This situation needed brute strength. He would never think of bringing Lorna along. She is not ready for something like this.

"This is not your concern!" Selene shouts in anger.

Magneto fixes her a cold glare. "I think it is...Black Queen."

Selene's face grows intense.

"Oh yes, I know who you are," Magneto answers her next question. "Rest assured that when my mutant revolution begins you, and the Inner Circle, shall be swept away, as a Tsunami sweeps over the land, clearing it of all refuge."

"Insolent peasant," Selene grumbles.

The tensions rise up several more notches as everyone waits for someone else to make the first move. Before anyone can there is another explosion, another wall gets punctured and in comes Fury, many SHIELD agents, along with Wasp, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Agent 13.

"Fury!" Magneto growls disdainfully.

Fury takes in the little stand-off. This he did not expect. "You're all under arrest and I strongly suggest you come peacefully," he commands and they can sort whatever this is out later.

"The man's a fool," Isobel says to her mother disparagingly. He was nothing but a mere mortal.

"Obviously," Selene says with a touch of disdain.

The tension rises more until Magneto decides he has had enough. "Acolytes. Destroy them all!" he commands.

"Hellions! Attack!" Emma counters that with.

"Take them down!" Fury orders his agents.

"X-Men," Cyclops begins his command. He knows they have no choice but to defend themselves so the only thing he needs to say is, "Be careful. Watch each other's backs."

The 4 separate groups, all hunting for the Crystal of Air, clash and something akin to pure chaos erupts.

Author's Note: Dr Swann's death had to inevitably come and so here it is with one last gift for Clark that gives him the missing clue he's been seeking. I made the choice awhile ago to have everyone there when the stone in China was found so the question became how do I do that. As Isobel is a witch I thought she has a vision. For Magneto I would need to give him a mutant seer and I chose Blindfold. In the comics Ruth is only hinted at being a distant relation of Destiny's but I decided to make it closer and more explicit. And I thought this would be a good time to unleash a sort of proto-Avengers upon the world. Not to mention Clark coming face to face with Selene for the 1st time. Good times for all! Oh and for Wasp's outfit I decided to use the one she uses in the Avengers: EMH cartoon. It's probably my personal favourite one anyone ever came up with for her. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; The fight is on but in the end who will emerge in possession of the stone?