Chapter 54

At the Institute...

It had to be getting close to 2 days now since Clark was taken by Rogue's reckoning and it was all as painful as she remembered. There's just sort of this hollow ache in the centre of her chest. It was driving her up the wall.

The last 24 hours had been worse than the 24 hours before that because for the last day they knew where Clark was and weren't doing anything but sitting around and planning how to rescue Clark. Rogue was so frustrated she was almost tempted to go and try a solo rescue effort.

Of course, logically, she knew that wouldn't work but it had seemed, at moments, a better alternative than sitting around here.

It was like the summer all over again. Rogue felt like screaming and she actually had once when working out her frustrations on the punching bag in the gym. It was the outlet that was keeping her from going postal on everyone.

It didn't help to see all the couple around here supporting each other. Peter and Kitty or Kurt and Amanda or Scott and Jean or...yes even Logan and Storm...although don't ask Rogue to imagine too much what her father gets up to with Storm. She has enough nightmares as it is.

That would be why she is back in the gym working the bag. Her body had a sheen of sweat to show how much effort she was putting into it. She is so focussed she doesn't hear another person enter until they start holding the bag for her. "Don't want ta talk about it Dom," she grumbles at her sister.

"I can see that," Domino says with a certain expression. One of sisterly concern.

Rogue continues to punch the bag.

"You know we could be going any second. I hear One-Eye and the Doc have almost agreed a plan but you're not going to be much good if you work yourself to a heart attack," Domino argues trying to get Rogue to ease down.

Rogue pauses and gazes at the monochrome mutant. "Why Dom?"

"Why, what?"

"Why does this happen ta meh? Why is it when we need help everyone is conveniently out of touch? Clark goes out night after night helping people and yet no-one is around ta help save him. Why is that?" Rogue asks because they still had not been able to get hold of Dr Strange.

"We're around," Domino reminds her. "Look wherever Dr Bizarro is I'm sure it's important. He is Earth's protector from mystical threats or something," she gives what is in essence a defence of the fact Dr Strange is out of reach but she is fairly certain that to be accurate. After all he probably has his own enemies to deal with just like they do. "We'll get Clark back Rogue," she promises her little sister.

Rogue sighs and her arms fall to her side. "It hurts Dom."

Domino's face takes on it's own pained expression. "I know. Believe me I do," she says with stark pain in her voice which is rare since Domino tends to joke.

Rogue looks at Domino.

Domino takes a moment. "Stryker ruined my life Rogue. Took me away from the people I cared about...from the man I cared about," she reveals for the 1st time.

"Ah didn't know," Rogue says in a regretful whisper because shouldn't she know. Domino is her sister.

"Of course not. I didn't tell you...and don't take this the wrong way but I'm not ready to spill my guts today."

"Ah understand," Rogue says and she does. God how much of her life has she still not even told Clark about.

"Just recall what I said about that there is nothing for me to go back to of that life so I know what you went through Rogue over the summer because I went through it after Stryker took me. I survived. You survived. We have that in common that we have the strength to get through it."

"Maybe once but ah think this is lahke tha 3rd tahme at least."

Domino moves over to Rogue and leads her to the bench against the wall and they sit down. "Look no-one can answer this for you. You have to decide whether the love you share with Clark is worth the price of going through the pain."

"Tha problem is Dom ah have no idea when this will end. There always seems ta beh that next person. Clark does attract a lot of attention even if he nevah wants it."

Domino could see that. Even in the short time she has known Clark, he seems to pull in very dangerous people, looking to learn the secrets around him. "I can't tell you the answer Rogue, sorry...but it's not like we don't do the same. Mutants ain't exactly loved," she points out that they pull in their own share of dangerous enemies.

Rogue rests her chin in her hands. "Some days ah almost prefer it when it was simple, before we went public," she confesses.

"Ah, who doesn't. I preferred it before my mutation kicked in, when I could go out and no-one would blink twice at me. I didn't enjoy being reduced to a night-owl going around under a hooded cloak before we went public and I could do with going at least a day without someone throwing the term 'mutie' at me but this is the choice we made isn't it? After all no-one makes you stay here."

That was true Rogue guessed. She did choose to be here and that means accepting taking everything that comes with being here and being mutants out in the public gaze. She's sure as Clark is back her depressed thinking will lift. Clark always lifts her spirits. All she can hope is that he hasn't been too badly hurt at the hands of the Inner Circle.

"Everyone please gather in the War Room urgently," the Professor's telepathic voice speaks into their minds.

Rogue's spirits lift. Perhaps, finally, they're ready to go rescue Clark.

Soon enough she and Domino reach the War Room where the rest of the X-Men are gathered along with Banshee, Dr McTaggert, Martha, Jonathan and Spider-Man. Peter had stuck around because he felt he needed to help even if that meant feeding his aunt another fib to explain where he was. That always eats at Peter to have to lie to his aunt.

Spider-Man's presence raises an awkward question illustrated when Sean and Moira give the Professor and Hank a questioning gaze but they manage to brush it off with a vague answer about how he is here and then press on with starting the meeting.

"Does this mean we have a plan?" Kitty asks.

Scott and the Professor share a look before the younger man answers. "We did but it may have become irrelevant."

"What does that mean?" Logan asks, a little confused.

The Professor answers. "Cerebro has detected massive mutant activity coming from the Hellions."

"Vhich means?" Kurt asks.

"It appears they are fighting someone just outside New York."

"Clark?" Rogue queries hopefully as in perhaps he escaped and now the Hellions are chasing him and trying to recapture him.

"That's a possibility," Scott hedges his bets. "Cerebro couldn't detect what it was they were fighting." Which strongly indicates it's Clark because he doesn't show up on Cerebro. "In either case something big is going on and we need to find out what. The Hellions have answers at the very least and we're going to get them. X-Men, suit up and prepare to leave immediately. Time is of the essence," Scott directs.

In only a few short minutes everyone is getting on-board the Velocity, even if some of them are still zipping up their uniform...or in Evan's case still trying to get his right boot on...his left foot.

Sean too had changed into a mostly green outfit with a yellow upside down triangular section down the middle and yellow gloves and boots. Attached from his arms to his waist were these yellow and black striped flaps. Terry wasn't coming, despite her wish to. There were plenty of them for this mission and she was safer here and as per their agreement the Professor was calling the shots and he said she was staying.

Dr McTaggert too had a uniform of a sort. An all in one silvery-grey suit that reminded Logan a bit of what Black Widow wears only less skin tight. It raises a question in his head he can't shake it out as to what inspired the Scottish woman to wear that. There is still a lot he doesn't know about the woman Logan realises.

A few moments later they are into the air and heading off in the direction the Professor detected the Hellions.

It doesn't take too long to reach their destination, just some of the natural wilderness once you get outside the built up areas of New York. It is a clearing in the forest that they spot what they they are looking for. They quickly try and make an assessment of the situation from the air.

There is a sort of purple energy dome within which, through the partially translucent field, they can catch glimpses of a fight between the Hellions...and they spot their foe. It is Clark. As for the dome it is being generated by a figure hovering directly above it; Isobel.

"We need to disable that field and that means taking Isobel down," Cyclops declares the first order of business. "Once the field is down we strike at the Hellions hard and fast before they have a chance to react."

"So how do we deal with Isobel?" Jean asks.

"Leave that t' me," Sean volunteers himself.

"You sure Sean?" the Professor asks. "Isobel is a powerful witch," he cautions.

"Aye that she may be but she has never had th' pleasure o' hearing me sing," he says with a crooked smile.

Kitty is confused. "Uh, how will singing like do anything to her?"

Sean's smile tightens. "Ah, ye have never heard me sing in battle lass. There's a reason I got th' name Banshee." He walks over to the side door. "Open th' door and be ready," he says to them.

Scott looks to the Professor, unsure what Mr Cassidy is about to do. Charles has an enigmatic smile on his face. "Do as he says, please," the Professor says.

Beast at the controls flips the switch for the door while Scott and the X-Men get ready to follow on immediately once the energy barrier drops.

Sean stands at the open door and eyes his target whom seems too focussed on her spell to notice the helicopter. Well that's all the better. He jumps out and stretches out his arms and the flaps do what they were designed to do. They let him glide. His voice has such strength that he can use it to propel himself through the air but for the moment he is going for the sneak attack. He glides into position and inhales deeply before letting loose his sonic scream.

It impacts Isobel who goes tumbling from the air. She crashes into the ground.

As soon as Isobel is disabled the energy field drops and the Velocity swoops in low.

"X-Men, go!" Cyclops orders and they leap from the helicopter and straight into battle with the Hellions.

Cyclops drops to the ground firing off his optic blasts at any target that presents itself as the X-Men smash into the Hellions hard. He runs over to Clark who is tussling with the large blond boy. Clark locks in a throw and Beef goes flying.

Clark's gaze spots Cyclops. "You're late," he complains, trying to sound serious but failing.

Scott manages a small grin. "Sorry. You know how it is. How did you escape?"

"It wasn't easy," Clark tells him. "But how about we save the details for after we kick these guys' butts?"

"Sounds like a plan," Scott says in agreement.

Taken completely by surprise and outnumbered the Hellions are soon forced on the defensive. Spider-Man contributes his usual witty banter.

Back with Isobel she is spitting dirt and leaves and stuff out of her mouth. To say she is angry is a very severe understatement. The one responsible lands a short distance away from her.

"Now lass how about ye surrender and we can set about freeing that poor girl yer possessing," Sean proposes.

"How about you go jump in a manure pile!" Isobel angrily yells back.

"Such language shouldnae pass th' lips of such a pretty lass," Sean rebukes her.

Isobel's eyes flash deep purple as she summons her magic within her.

Sean inhales and lets loose his sonic scream.

Isobel raises a hand and a shield. The scream buffets it, tearing up the ground around her but it holds. She summons a ball of mystical energy to her hand and sends it at Banshee.

Sean has a trick against that. He can tighten the sound waves he generates to create, in essence, a sonic shield around himself. The ball deflects off it and hits a tree nearby, shattering the trunk, and causing it to start falling...right where Sean is. He throws himself out of the way. When he regathers his senses and looks around for the girl he finds she is gone.

The Hellions, some now unconscious and being carried find themselves surrounded on all sides as the X-Men encircle them. The surprise attack had worked better than Scott could dream.

"Surrender," Cyclops demands.

"Not a chance!" Hellion yells in defiance.

"Why do the bad guys always hire the stupid ones?" Dom asks at that reply because it's over. They're beaten. Surely they must see that.

"I know, right," Spider-Man says in agreement. "I mean you should see the calibre of stooges I have to fight. I doubt any of them can do their Times Tables."

"I'm not sure you can either," Superman quips, with a smirk.

"You know I'm starting to think I shouldn't have come and saved ya," Spider-Man says, making himself sound stroppy.

"I'm hurt," Superman says with a pouty face. "I thought you and I had something."

"You do," Dom says before she smirks. "Lame humour. I just hope it isn't contagious."

"Like you can talk!" Spider-Man and Superman say together, hitting back at Domino.

"You all talk too much!" a ghostly voice says before a purple mist start to form around the Hellions. "This is not over heroes!" what is Isobel's voice vows.

"You don't think..." Jean starts to say to Scott about what Isobel is about to do.

Scott's hand goes to his visor and fires off a shot that goes right through the mist. When it clears the Hellions are gone. Scott grinds his teeth in total frustration at yet another escape.

Rogue, meanwhile, sprints from the other side of the circle and literally leaps into Clark's arms and kisses him senseless, not caring that she is putting on a display. She is just so happy to see him.

Once she is done Clark holds Rogue up, in his arms and grins that boyish one she loves so much. "Now I may be mistaken here but I think you missed me."

Rogue playfully slaps him and rolls her eyes. "Don't get cute," she tells him off.

"I'm pretty sure it's physically impossible for me to not be cute."

Kitty rolls her eyes. "Yep. He's fine," she answers the question before it is even asked.

"So how did you escape?" Evan asks.

Clark gently places Rogue back down on the ground as he explains his escape. "Ah well you know how it goes. Incompetent witches whose spells aren't nearly as good as they think they are. A spell was cast to suppress my powers but it seems my powers can only be suppressed for so long. Once the spell wore off it was...well it wasn't easy to escape. Selene really doesn't like me but I managed to get past her and was on my way back when Isobel and the Hellions literally appeared in my path to try and recapture me and then you guys showed up. Thank you."

"Zhat's vhat friends are for," Kurt says, with a grin, happy that his friend is back.

"Yes. Yes they are," Clark says with what Rogue has to say is an odd little...smirk?

Beast raises a concern Sage told them about. "Clark, we heard that Emma might have found a way to access your mind?"

"Oh yes," Clark says as if suddenly just remembering that. "Well she did give it a go but I am a Kryptonian. My mind isn't that easy to access. Maybe if she had a month she might have gotten somewhere but I scarpered away before then."

"Your parents will be glad to hear that," Storm says. "They have been gravely worried."

"Of course," Clark says.

Rogue frowns a little at how casual Clark seems to say that. It sounds...well a little off for him.

The Professor lands the helicopter nearby as Sean joins the group. "Nice t' meet ye again lad. Glad ye could escape th' clutches of th' Inner Circle."

"Mr Cassidy?" Clark queries in surprise at seeing him. "You came all this way to help rescue little ol' me. I'm touched."

"Don't mention it."

"Can we like go home now?" Kitty asks.

"Fraid not," Clark says to her.

"What?" Jean asks, puzzled. "Why not?"

"Because while I did manage to escape I didn't manage to retrieve the stone and if we still want to get it we would have to go now before they have a chance to move it."

"I wouldnae bet on that lad," Sean says. "One thing I'm betting hasnae changed about Sebastian Shaw is his arrogance. He probably thinks we wouldn't be stupid enough t' try."

"Well he obviously doesn't know us," Spider-Man proclaims. "I do stupider stuff than that on a daily basis."

"I wouldn't advertise that webhead," Logan says in his gruff tones.

Clark looks to Scott. "We can do this," he insists. "Before I could break free my x-ray vision came back and I had a chance to have a good look around. There are hidden tunnels...escape tunnels I think, under the building. One is not too far from the vault where the stone is. We can get in, get the stone and be gone in 10 minutes tops. If I have to I'll do it myself because I can't risk leaving that stone in their hands."

"Clark," Rogue says sternly, warning him off about going on some foolhardy scheme. That's her job in this relationship.

Clark looks at her, a look of irritation. "I can't leave it Rogue. I told you that the stones are dangerous. They have power and in the wrong hands destructive power. The Crystal of Air is especially dangerous. Remember the clue talking about turbulence creating the wind?"

"Yeah."

"It can do exactly that. Generate turbulence a twister would envy. You can level buildings with it," Clark gives the dire warning of what the stone can do. "I can't...I won't leave it there. Now I could go charging in at full speed and do it all in moments but my bet would be the place is mystically protected and my powers, as we have discovered of late, don't do well around magic. That's why I suggested the sneaking in approach," he says, sounding almost impatient.

Rogue is getting little warning lights in her head because Clark is usually the most patient one of all of them. It takes a lot to get him this wound up which makes her wonder what happened to him during the 2 days he has been missing.

Logan shares a look with Storm. "He might have a point," Logan says to his girlfriend.

Domino picking up on what Logan is saying adds, in what sounds like support for Clark's idea, "Going now would also take them by surprise before the Hellions have a chance to regroup."

Scott could see both arguments had merit. The going home and planning one was more appealing to his nature but the taking them by surprise also appeals. If Clark is right in his judgement that they can quickly sneak in, grab the stone and leave within minutes then they can, essentially, put an end to this stone hunt tonight. His gaze turns to the helicopter. "Lets discuss it with the Professor," he decides. It wouldn't hurt to take a few minutes to bounce the idea around in a discussion and hear what everyone thinks.

"First off can I say how glad I am to see you unharmed Clark," the Professor says to the young man as they all stand around the helicopter now.

"Thanks Professor," Clark says back. "And I take it our two guests now know who I am," he assumes in regards to Moira and Sean since they have been using his proper name from the get-go.

"They volunteered to help and I felt it only right they should know what they were getting involved with. Your parents agreed."

"Of course," Clark says, with a little bit of a dark look. It is only momentary but it is there.

Rogue notices it and it brings up this unsettling feeling she is getting that something is off about her boyfriend. Don't ask her to explain what though.

The Professor moves onto Clark's proposal. "The tunnels you mentioned weren't on the plans given to us by Sage," he mentions and that concerns him.

Clark shrugs. "I don't know what to tell you Professor. I saw them with my own eyes. I can find where they emerge. They'll get us right in, bypassing all the security. There's a few guards around the vault but we can deal with them easily enough and the vault is probably alarmed but once we have the stone we don't have to hang around, just leave as swiftly as possible."

The Professor ponders what to do. Clark seems very determined to go get the stone now, by himself if he has to. Clark is right in that if they wait they risk the stone being moved. The thought of Sebastian Shaw having such power makes Charles' stomach turn. "I am open minded to attempting this," he expresses his view. "However if any of you feel differently, please speak your mind freely," he offers because it is only prudent to listen to any concerns.

Concerns are raised about stepping into what is their enemy's stronghold but in the end they agree to proceed with Clark's proposal because sooner or later they would have to do this anyway. It might as well be now. That agreed they all squeeze onto the helicopter which takes off for New York and the Headquarters of the Hellfire Club.

They land the helicopter on a flat roof some distance away. The Club is inevitably situated in the most upmarket part of New York.

The decision is made to split into 2 groups. One goes in to retrieve the stone. The other stays behind with the helicopter as back-up should it go wrong.

The group going in consists of Cyclops, Jean, Clark, Rogue, Kitty, Nightcrawler, Logan and Spider-Man. In theory Kitty could simply phase her way in but, as Clark expressed concerns about earlier, if there are mystical protections they can't be certain even Kitty's powers will work. Kurt can be emergency exit...assuming they can't apply the magical protections to teleportation as well. This is why it is best they try and sneak in as if they don't have powers. Where magic is involved relying on one's powers could be a mistake. Jean's presence is obvious. Her telepathy to detect any guards. Logan is because he has experience with stuff like this from his SHIELD days and if they do end up having to fight their way out no-one is better in a brawl than Logan. Spider-Man volunteered, making the case for his inclusion due to his spider-sense. Scott could see the obvious advantage of Peter's ability to pre-cognitively sense danger. Clark's presence is self-explanatory. His power and only he knows how to handle the stone safely. Rogue was...well Scott wasn't going to be the one to tell her she wasn't coming along. Besides, after Logan, Rogue was arguably the best fighter in the team.

It was a balancing act. Too large a group was more likely to be spotted but not enough risked not being able to fight their way out in case something happened. Scott can only hope he has gotten the balance correct.

"If I'm right I can find the entrance to the tunnel I saw but I don't think you'll like it," Clark cautions.

"How so?" Rogue asks.

"It was below the building," he says with a sheepish expression.

Logan groans as he gets it. "Ya mean the sewers," he says with total loathing.

Clark shrugs.

Logan hates the sewers.

"If that's the way in that's where we go," Scott decides. "X-Men, move out," he commands and the group make their way towards the fire escape so they can descend and find a sewer entrance.

"Think we'll find the Ninja Turtles?" Clark quips.

That makes Kurt and Peter especially laugh.

Rogue rolls her eyes while all the while she still has this nagging feeling about Clark being off his norm. She knows it probably sounds crazy because no-one else has seemed to notice it but then again who know Clark better than her. Rogue hopes it is just her seeing something that isn't really there.

"I hope th' lad knows what he is doing," Sean cautions, speaking to Charles.

"I have complete faith in Cyclops, Sean," Charles says and means it. "I know you would wish to go with them but Cyclops is team leader. Final decisions are his and in a situation like this it is best he takes along those he trusts and has trained and fought with and therefore knows best."

"I'm nae doubting your words Charles but this is th' Inner Circle we're talking about," Sean warns.

"Which is why it is best we are here, ready to move in if anything goes wrong. I do hear you Sean. I do. Just remain alert."

"Not a problem," Sean assures his old friend.

Across the street a figure, dressed in black, pops his head above the roof line, binoculars over his eyes taking in the scene with the remaining X-Men. He speaks into a mic under his black balaclava. "My Liege, they're here," he informs the person on the other end.

"Good. Have the men move into position and await my command...and don't be seen or you shall know the displeasure of your King," the voice replies darkly.

"Of course. We await your command."

It doesn't take too long for the X-Men to find a way into the sewer and, with Clark's eyes, not much longer to be heading in the correct direction.

Kitty is making a face and trying real hard not to think about what it is they are walking through while Peter babbles on about his many(far too many!) trips down into the sewers. "I thank the Lord I wasn't bit by a radioactive rat or lizard...although the lizard thing is usually more to do with some one-armed scientist who tries and grows his arm back by using an experimental serum with lizard DNA which then mutates him into this giant lizard-man and then he tries to turn everyone in New York into lizard-men and then I have to stop him with the fighting and the scratching and the biting and the 16 near death experiences and..."

Logan cuts him off. "Webhead is it compulsive you joke more the more nervous you get?" he asks and he can tell the kid is actually nervous by Peter's scent.

"Oh come on, I don't do that," Spider-Man insists. He then looks to Kitty. "Do I?" he asks.

Kitty smiles at him while trying to block the smell of this place out so it is a little forced.

Spider-Man starts up again. "So this guy walks into a bar and...ouch!"

Logan punched him on the arm.

Peter rubs his arm. "You're not a summer person are you?" he says to Logan.

Clark chuckles. "I don't think a season has been invented that describes Logan." He points to the right. "That way," he says and they all head in that direction.

"Any security you can see Superman?" Cyclops asks.

"Nothing here. Maybe when we get to the tunnel but really if they're escape tunnels wouldn't you try and not draw attention to them?"

"Can't be too careful," Logan warns off them being complacent.

"Perhaps but you've got me and the walking danger magnet here," Clark jokes as he points at Spider-Man. "On second thoughts you have a point," he smirks.

"I'm not a danger magnet," Spider-Man protests.

"Methinks you doth protest too much," Kitty says, lightly riling her boyfriend.

Spider-Man shakes his head in denial of that. "Nay, fair maiden. I doth protest the correct-eth precise amount-eth."

Kitty covers her mouth with her hand and snorts out a giggle.

"This is it," Clark interrupts the banter between the couple as they come to a gated off passageway. He simply rips the metal gate off its hinges. There is little point in being subtle.

As they go through the tunnel Scott has to say so far it is going extremely well...perhaps too well or is he just being paranoid?

Caution is a necessity in this situation.

They reach the apparent dead-end. "This it?" Scott asks Clark.

Clark nods. "Yep. It's clear."

Rogue looks twice at him. When he uses his x-ray vision his eyes flash an electric blue but right there he...maybe she missed it but she didn't think he used his x-ray vision there so how can he know it's clear?

Clark pulls what is a hidden door back. It opens up into a plushly decorated corridor. "We're not too far from the vault and there are guards there," he informs the rest of the team.

"We have to take them down before they can set off any kind of alert," Cyclops states.

The X-Men move silently through the strangely quiet corridors of the Hellfire Club, incapacitating the odd guard they meet as they go until they reach the vault which has half a dozen guards protecting it.

"Superman, Nightcrawler," Cyclops says in a low voice. "Go," he orders.

Kurt vanishes in his puff of blue smoke and Clark blurs. Kurt's appearance distracts the guards while Clark moves at superspeed to incapacitate them. It takes merely a few moments. The rest of the X-Men join them.

"That leaves the door," Jean says as they turn to the huge circular vault door. The vault must be an entire room judging from this, like a bank sized vault.

Clark shudders slightly. "There's magic here."

Logan sniffs the air. "Space Boy's right. I can smell it."

"Then it is magically protected," Rogue makes the only conclusion possible.

"We might as well just give it a go," Clark shrugs as if there is no choice which in his view there isn't. After all they came all this way.

"Shadowcat," Cyclops says her name, giving the instruction for her to try and phase through the door.

"On it," Kitty replies as she walks up to the door. She raises her hand and tries to phase that carefully through the door to test whether she can. Her hand hits the metal door. Her expression is a mixture of surprise and confusion at her failure as this has never happened to her before. "I can't do it. I phase but my hand still hits metal."

"Time for the less subtle approach," Logan decides this situation merits.

"Alright," Scott agrees. "Superman, Spider-Man and Jean. Lets see if the 3 of you together can force the door open," he decides to just try and use over-whelming force.

Clark and Peter get a grip on the door while Jean telekinetically does the same.

"Any spider-sense flaring?" Kitty asks her boyfriend.

"Nothing so far," Peter reports.

"Then pull," Rogue says.

"On 3," Jean instructs. "1...2...3!"

The group of 3 combined slowly manage to rip the locks and the door swings open to reveal a large room full of artefacts.

The X-Men take a few careful steps inside.

"Vhat are we looking for?" Kurt asks.

Clark's eyes roam around the room until he spots what he is looking for within the horse statue. It sits upon an antique dresser. He points at it. "That's it."

"Then grab it and lets get going," Logan says, on edge.

"I think not," a viperish hiss suddenly cuts through the air just before the room is plunged into complete darkness.

Peter's spider-sense suddenly goes crazy as the very darkness seems to come alive and wrap around him. From the sounds around him, he can see literally nothing, he guesses that everyone else is suffering the same fate. The darkness crawls over his skin until it envelops his face and starts to suffocate him. He struggles but no matter how hard he tries the shadows just morph around him until he can struggle no longer and consciousness slips away.

Back with the remainder of the X-Men at the helicopter nerves were starting to fray as all they could do was wait.

Domino paces, a little twitchy. She swears she feels like they're being watched. Her eyes dart to a rooftop opposite. This is a terrible place to park. So many buildings around and blind angles. Huh...just like typical parking in New York she jokes inside her own head. "Ow!" she suddenly yelps as something stings her. Her hand goes up to her neck and she finds something lodged there. She pulls it out and finds a dart. "Oh..." is all she gets out before the sedative kicks in and she collapses.

Domino isn't the only one. Everyone exposed gets hit almost at the same time with little, what are, tranquilliser darts. Then shells land on the roof expelling a blinding, choking, white gas. The roof entrance door is kicked open as men in black paramilitary clothing pour onto the roof, all wearing gas masks. They quickly go to work subduing whoever isn't already unconscious with stun batons. It is an expertly executed assault that soon has the remaining X-Men down and out.

Rogue isn't sure how much time has passed before light filters back into her eyes. The last thing she remembers was the suffocating darkness that clawed and crawled all over her. It was horrible. It felt like a thousand cold, clammy hands trying to claw their way into her soul. Her eyelids flicker open and her green eyes try to make sense of where she is.

A small rectangular room.

This is horribly familiar.

It's a cell.

Another freakin cell!

And...

Rogue's hands go up to her neck to feel for whatever it is that is wrapped around said neck. It feels like...

'It can't be!' she thinks in denial of the situation because otherwise what is around her neck is a power inhibitor just like Stryker stuck on her when he captured her. Rogue finds her wrists shackled to her ankles.

'Just great,' she mentally grouses. This can't be good.

Rogue jerks up off the bare bed she is lying on as the sound of the bolt on the door being opened hits her ears. Two guards appear, armed with pistols aimed at her. They are dressed in these black suits with red trimming and are wearing these plain white, faceless mask.

"Try anything and you'll regret it," one of the guards warns her. "His majesty wants to see you."

'His majesty?' Rogue mentally queries in her head as she debates whether she should clock these two clowns and try and find her friends or let them drag her along and see if a better opportunity presents itself.

Rogue's dilemma is solved when the two guards step apart to let two more by her. 4 might be pushing it even for her when they're armed and she is possibly powerless. She lets the 2 guards haul her to her feet and 'escort' her out of her cell. Eventually they lead her into an oval shaped room where she finds everyone else shackled like she is and with power inhibiting collars around their necks...well everyone apart from Spider-Man who is not here. Same for Logan and most worryingly of all to Rogue, Clark isn't here either.

Suddenly there is this amused laughter as a well-built, well-dressed man with dark hair and green eyes enters the room escorted on either side by Selene and Emma. He comes up to a stop in front of the Professor.

"Charles Xavier. It has been awhile," Sebastian Shaw says as a form of greeting to his old foe.

Charles glares at the man not feeling that should be dignified with a response.

"Not long enough," Banshee says, with little to no respect for their captor.

Shaw turns his gaze to the Irishman. He had been a little surprised to find both Banshee and Dr McTaggert had been amongst the X-Men when they were brought back after being captured on that rooftop. "Mr Cassidy. How I have missed your wit...well half of it," Sebastian says, being deliberately insulting.

"What do you want Sebastian?" Charles asks, not in the mood to play games with his old foe. Those games are simply for Sebastian's amusement anyway and Charles will not indulge him. All Charles really wants to know is how Sebastian managed to get the drop on them so completely.

Shaw turns his gaze back to the man in the wheelchair. "What do I want?" he asks. "You think this was about me?"

"It always about ye," Moira spits out with hate-filled tones.

"Dr McTaggert, please. There is no need to be so hostile. You are my honoured guests," Shaw says with a smirk. "You are here to bear witness to the initiation of the newest member of the Hellfire Club." Shaw turns to the door. "You can enter!" he says in raised tones.

The doors to the room open and in walks...

"Superman!" Scott gasps.

Rogue blinks. No. It can't be possible. Clark wouldn't betray them.

Superman walks up to right in front of Scott, his face caught in this smirk that looks like he is laughing at this joke only he gets. "Scotty!" he mocks Scott's reaction. He then chuckles a little insanely. "The answer to the incredibly obvious next question is that yes, I led you all into a trap."

"Why?" Kitty asks. "And where's Spider-Man?!" she demands to know, her heart pinched with concern over Peter.

"Ah, pretty Kitty," Superman breathes. "Spidey's fine. It is just those collars around your necks were designed for mutants which he isn't. He's chained up securely...in titanium chains which even he isn't breaking."

"You never answered why," Storm points out.

"Oh neither I did," Superman says lightly as if it doesn't matter. "Well you remember me saying Emma tried and failed to get into my mind...well I lied," he laughs. "Oh my God and you guys fell for it!" he laughs louder. "You are so gullible! I don't know why I ever hanged out with you," he says that as an insult. "Losers," he snorts disparagingly.

"That they are my boy," Shaw says. He then looks down at the professor. "Betrayed twice. Tsk, tsk Charles. We are sloppy aren't we. Well at least no-one died this time," he mocks, knowing that stab will hurt his old enemy a great deal.

The jab about Darwin stings but Charles pushes it aside. "Where's Wolverine?" he demands to know.

"Oh yes, the animal," Selene says with insulting tones which earns her a severe, sharp look from Storm.

"Too dangerous to be released from his cell even with his powers suppressed," Emma explains and she knows how dangerous Logan is.

"Where did you get the collars?" Hank asks because as far as he knew only Stryker had these mutant power inhibiting devices. He's been trying for months to recreate the technology with no success so far.

"Oh we've been in possession of those for quite some time," Shaw answers. "After all do you think an organisation like ours wasn't aware of Weapon X?" he asks rhetorically.

"Knowing these guys they probably did think that," Superman says. "They aren't the brightest bulbs in the shop," he slanders his friends.

"How could you?" this quiet voice, unable to remain silent any longer, says.

A large grin comes to Superman's face at who asked that question. He moves to stand in front of Rogue. "Aw Rogue, snookums. Don't you fret about what's going to happen. Someone of your..." he smirks and gazes at her chest, "attributes would definitely have a place by my side."

"I have a boyfriend," Rogue retorts and whoever this is standing in front of her isn't her boyfriend. She is still trying to work out who it is.

"Kent?" Superman snorts. "Why would you want that loser when you can have me?" he asks, weirdly insulting himself in the process. "We both know, deep down, you want the bad boy just like I am now," he insinuates something about Rogue's character. "Choose me and trust me you'll be getting the thrill of your life soon enough because lets face it I am super all over," he says with cocky arrogance.

Rogue looks at Clark closely and now she sees it. Sees what what was irking her so about his behaviour. She can see him.

Superman points at her. "Oh look. You can see the cogs grinding round. You know don't you Rogue. You know who I am...who Emma has unleashed upon the world, don't you?" He cups his ear. "Come on say it! Say my name!" he demands of her.

Rogue says the word with a little tremble of fear. "Kal."

Superman...Kal grins all the wider. "Hi there," he says, his eyes gleaming with dark mischief. "Did you miss me?"

Author's Note: And so Kal returns. Well that'll liven things up won't it? Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; How did Emma manage to free Kal and the X-Men have to start to deal with their friend's betrayal.