Chapter 57

Claire's heart is hammering away in her chest as long buried emotions threaten to spill over. From believing completely that her family is dead one moment it turns out they are very much alive the next. She looks at Martha, her orange eyes full of emotion when normally they hide what she feels so well. "Mom?" she queries with the utmost tentativeness in her voice...and hope and longing...almost desperate longing to re-establish that lost mother/daughter connection.

Martha blinks, her heart is hammering in her chest as her head tries to get itself around the idea that all along she might have had the one thing she has wanted. A child of her own flesh. She can't deny part of her wants that badly. Don't get her wrong. She loves Clark and thinks of him as her own son but it's not quite the same as having an actual biological daughter...oh dear God she has a daughter with Sebastian it suddenly sinks in.

Hope starts to fade for Claire as Martha does not react.

Martha can see Claire standing there, waiting for her to confirm it and can see a spark of hurt begin. In response Martha steps forward and takes Claire into her arms. "My daughter," she murmurs.

Claire wraps her arms around Martha and breathes shakily as her emotions boil over. She has a mother. She has a mother!

Martha turns her gaze to Sebastian. "If this is a trick I swear..." she starts to threaten him.

Sebastian holds his hands up to in gesture to show he is hiding nothing. "No tricks Martha. I can show you the test results if you wish," he says with this rather smug smile.

As if Martha would trust anything he shows her. However part of her seems to believe him. She pulls Claire tighter into her. "It's good to see you again," she whispers to the girl as she strokes her long hair.

Claire closes her eyes trying to stop tears falling. This is all too much to take.

Amara sits, watching this, rather stunned into silence, with this added on top of her own revelation in regards to Selene who she watches out of the corner of her eye. The dark sorceress seems to be quite amused looking by all of this.

Emma, as always, keeps her emotions hidden behind a mask of cool indifference at this scene. In the end she doesn't believe it will necessitate her to change her long term plans. She is, however, not pleased at being left out of the loop. She is truly surprised to find out Claire is Sebastian's daughter. She wonders what his game is at waiting until now to reveal this.

Kal elbows Isobel in the ribs. "Uck, and me without my camera to capture the moment," he flippantly remarks.

"Can you be serious?" Isobel chastises him.

"I can be. I choose not to."

Isobel gives him a dirty look for that reply.

"Perhaps we should allow them a few moment to absorb these revelations," Sage suggests. She had been standing in the doorway for awhile, watching this, without anyone really noticing her until she spoke.

"A pertinent idea," Sebastian agrees with his personal assistant. He can see that she is correct. It is a bombshell he has dropped. Allowing his daughter and her mother a little privacy to bond can serve his aims he believes. His presence at the moment, considering Martha's cool attitude to him, would not assist. Let it sink in and then he can work more on reintegrating them all as a family. He signals to his Queens, Sage and Isobel to depart and instructs Kal to remain and watch over their guests. He has to leave someone to watch over them and why not it be someone they know. Also call it a small test of Kal's loyalty to see what he does if anything when 'alone' with his former friends. Not that he is really alone. He will be being watched.

Before departing Selene strides over to Amara. "Don't think of leaving, my dear granddaughter. After all we have so much catching up to do," she says with a dark smile of anticipation at 'catching up' as she glides a cold finger down Amara's cheek.

Amara shivers uncontrollably in a mixture of fear and revulsion at Selene's touch.

Once they leave the room Kal folds his arms across his chest and takes in the sight of his mother and Claire. Huh, he has a little sister. That's...a shame really because Claire's kinda hot. On the other hand they're not actually blood related. He doesn't actually have any blood relations being the last of his kind and all.

Martha leads Claire over to the seat next to Amara and sits her down. "How are you doing?" Martha asks the fiery teenager.

Claire manages a watery smile. "Oh not so bad...considering the one person I respect turns out to have a murdering daughter," she refers to herself, truly upset about what her mother must think of her. Truly terrified her mother will reject her.

Kal chuckles. "Oh yeah. I had almost forgotten about that. Well I wouldn't beat yourself up too bad about it. Trust me that guilt thing is for losers. I never waste my time with it."

Martha fixes him a severe glare. She'll deal with him momentarily. She turns her focus back to Claire. "Claire. I wish this was the time and place to talk about that," she says. It obviously is neither the time nor place to have that kind of discussion. "However, know this, that I don't hold you in any lesser opinion than before. I always tried to be be there and help you and now, as it turns out, you're my daughter I mean that doubly."

"But..." Claire starts to say but Martha never lets her.

"No buts, Claire. Once we're out of this situation we're going to talk and that, young lady, you can't avoid."

"It's amazing how quickly she falls into that bossy mom roll ain't it?" Kal says, tongue firmly in cheek.

Right. Her son. Martha needs to deal with him. She looks to Claire and gently strokes her daughter's cheek. "I promise Claire. I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere," she promises.

Hope burns in Claire's eyes that that is true.

"I just need to talk to Superman for a moment. In the meantime why don't you and Amara catch up," Martha suggests before she stands up straight and marches right up to her son, showing no fear of him despite of who he is right now...and then grabs him by his left ear and drags him into the corner while Kal complains furiously, muttering profanities.

Amara and Claire look at each other, fidgeting awkwardly, unsure what to say to each other.

Claire plays with her hands in her lap and decides to break the silence. "So, uh, granddaughter?" she asks about what Selene said.

"So she claims," Amara says hatefully.

"Um...sorry that your grandmother turned out to be the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club," Claire says somewhat lamely and then mentally cringes at how pathetic that sounded.

Amara manages a small smile at Claire's attempt at sympathy. "Sorry your father turned out to be the Black King," Amara says back in kind.

Claire's shoulders slump a little. "Just when I thought my life couldn't get any more screwed up," she complains.

"Why did you leave?" Amara asks.

"I told you why in my letter," Claire replies defensively.

"There's a phrase for that back home. I think the closest translation is 'what a load of crap!'" Amara pours scorn on Claire's reasons. It didn't make any sense to her back in the summer and it still doesn't.

Claire blinks. She's not use to hearing such language coming from Amara.

Amara shrugs. "For awhile my room-mates were Tabby and Wanda," she explains where she picked that up from. "Not to mention you were never shy about letting loose the profanities."

"Yeah but I grew up on the streets. You're a princess," Claire argues about the differences between them.

Amara chuckles. "You should come to my home sometime and hear the Senate debate, like I had to. Lets just say the debates were...robust and the Senators aren't shy when it comes to insulting their opponents. In fact some of the descriptions were extremely...colourful."

"I...uh...didn't realise."

"You must remember we are descended directly from Rome with a culture that has remained virtually unchanged for 1500 years. We have a very different definition of what civilised means. When I first came to the United States I was surprised by how tame everyone was."

"So you were never offended by my language?"

"Like I said; tame."

Claire laughs. "I...no-one has ever called me that before."

"First time for everything. So how about answering my question. Why did you leave?"

"Seemed like a good idea at the time," Claire says with a sigh that indicates she has been having second thoughts about that but after today's revelations can you blame her.

"Are you alright? You know with learning what that Shaw guy did to...um...make you?"

"It's still sinking in. Since I was 3 I thought my parents were dead and now I learn they were never really my parents."

"Well I can sympathise a little. Apparently I don't know my parents at all if Selene was telling the truth."

"You really didn't know?"

"No. My family name is Aquilla, not Gallio. The idea that I'm related to her..." Amara shudders in revulsion. "Selene is the most hated, reviled person on my island. She's like...uh the bogeyman," Amara tries to come up with an analogy Claire might understand. "You know parents tell their children to behave or Selene will come for their souls. That usually scares even the most rebellious teenager into line and you must realise it was only just over 50 years ago she was banished. There are still people around who remember her, remember the evil she is capable of."

"Well if it helps I have heard stories about my...father that don't exactly paint him in a good light."

"My Gods, we're a pair aren't we?" Amara laughs at the sheer absurdity of the position she and Claire in.

Claire joins in the laughter. "Yes, we are."

Amara and Claire share a look and a spark, almost visible, flies between them. Amara makes a move but Claire stops her.

"What?" Amara asks, her voice soft.

"I have a girlfriend," Claire explains and that is why she stopped Amara. She could tell Amara was about to kiss her. Must be the high emotion but thanks to her temper Claire is use to dealing with emotions that are near the surface.

"Oh," Amara says somewhat embarrassed. "Well, you know, in my culture multiple partners is not uncommon," she points out.

"Uh...that might be ok for you Amara but Marie doesn't come from a culture like that," Claire says, trying to be loyal, despite what feelings of attraction she still has for Amara. Just because she grew up rough doesn't make her a complete bitch and she won't cheat on her girlfriend.

Amara smiles thinly. "I understand," she says and she does, even if it hurts a bit to be rejected.

While Claire and Amara were catching up, Martha had dragged her son into the corner.

"What the fuck?!" Kal complains as he rubs his ear.

"Watch the language Clark," Martha chastises him at a harsh whisper.

"Didn't you hear my good pal Sebastian. Clark's not here at the minute."

"It's you Clark. However much you try and protest it isn't, it is you. Don't try and pretend otherwise. I'm your mother," Martha warns him off. She then starts frisking him.

"What are you doing?" Kal asks indignantly.

"Where's the red kryptonite, Clark?"

"There isn't any. Isobel and Emma double teamed me. This is all magical telepathy...or telepathic magic...or maglepathy. There I invented a new term," Kal says with some pride at his achievement. "But I think the more important question is what the hell are you doing here mom?" he asks her, sounding quite agitated.

"Why do you think?" Martha gives him her reply as she has to concede she can't find any red kryptonite on him. God knows how they'll undo this but worry about that later. Getting out of this situation is more of the priority right now.

"Aw, you came to rescue me," Kal says making an over-the-top touched expression. "That's sweet. Really...but you shouldn't be here. You're going to screw this up," he tells her off. "I have it completely under control," he says with total belief in himself.

"No, you don't," Martha contradicts him. "You only think you do. That's your flaw when you're like this. You're arrogant and cocky."

"I find your lack of faith disturbing," Kal says in a pitch perfect Darth Vader impression.

"It's like last time isn't it?" Martha asks him, realising something from his words. "This is like Alicia. You're planning something."

Kal grins. "I'm always planning something. Just because I tend to get distracted a little by someone with a great rack doesn't mean my brain isn't working."

Martha glares at him. "I raised you better than that."

"Don't give yourself too much credit there mom. Considering your severe limitations you should be thankful I'm not a mass murderer."

"I'm going to let that pass only because I know you're not in your right mind."

"I'm insulted," he pretends to be. "Everything is going exactly as planned. Give me some credit."

Martha reaches up and places her hand on Clark's cheek. "Clark, you don't realise how dangerous you are when you're like this."

"That's not what you're afraid of. You're afraid of the exact opposite. That I do know how dangerous I am and just don't care," he says with a rather bone chilling look.

That makes Martha pause because he's not wrong about that. The thought of Clark going around, not caring about who he endangers is something she is afraid of but she believes totally that in her son's good character...even this malfunctioning one that is currently running the show. "Clark, what are you up to?" she asks, deep concern in her voice.

Kal grins lopsidedly. "Trust me. I've got this covered. Just stick close to me when the moment comes."

"What moment?"

"Oh you'll know. It'll be when everyone sees just what a bad, bad boy I am," he promises with bad boy smile to add to his point.

Martha has to say that's not reassuring in the least.

It is a few hours later that the other members of the New York branch of the Inner Circle arrive as it is was only a short time ago Sebastian summoned them to inform them of his triumph. They gather in the round meeting room, each sitting upon their thrones.

"What is this about Shaw?" an overweight man, with red hair and thick beard asks. He is Harry Leland, Black Bishop of the Hellfire Club. He is a mutant who has the ability to increase the force of gravity upon a person or object within, roughly, a few hundred feet of himself.

"Patience Leland," Sebastian advises his Black Bishop, though who knows for how much longer he will be. Leland over indulged and was in poor health. Shaw didn't give Leland more than a few years left from what he had read in the medical files he had Tessa obtain. That's why Kal's defection is perfectly timed. The Inner Circle would need fresh blood once he became Lord Imperial. Sebastian had plans to completely overhaul the whole organisation. Modernise it to coin a phrase. Tessa, standing behind his throne, would be a great help in that. She had proved herself beyond doubt over her long and loyal service to him since she left Xavier and joined him and he hasn't even rubbed that in the good Professor's face just to show that he can be magnanimous.

Leland shares a look with his white counterpart Donald Pierce. It was never good when Shaw was coy...although that is better than the usual insults he gets about his weight which Shaw is never shy from delivering.

The last member to enter the room is Selene, accompanied by her daughter. Isobel herself was a probationary member of the Club by the sheer fact of being Selene's daughter. Membership was normally hereditary. It was inherited by the next descendent after death but since Selene is immortal that rule was going to have be bent a little. If Isobel proved herself Shaw was willing to put it to the vote to allow her full membership. The New York branch was in need of a new Black Rook and if Isobel was voted in Shaw was going to grant her that position. Rook's were 3rd in the line of authority after Kings and Queens, who had equal top rank, and Bishops. After Rooks were Knights followed by Pawns.

Once Selene takes her throne and Isobel stands next to her mother the meeting can begin. Isobel is still playing nice, waiting her moment. That moment will come when the 3 stones are gathered together. That will be her moment to take their power for herself and rid herself of her mother.

Shaw rises to his feet and walks to the centre of the room so he can make his announcement. "Ladies and Gentleman. I have called this meeting because they have been several developments over these last few days that give us the chance to elevate this branch of our beloved Inner Circle to the top of our organisation."

"What developments?" Pierce asks, with a furrowed brow. He had been busy with his partnership with Lex Luthor so hadn't been on top of affairs within the Circle as he probably needs to be. There is a lot of pruning that needs to be done around here, in his opinion and funnily enough his partnership with Lex just might deliver the shears with which he can start snipping away those that he deems unfit to be members of this fine institution.

"I think it best if our Probationary Member, the Countess Thoreaux and our White Queen explain," Shaw invites them to tell the story since it begins with their impulsive decision to go to China. "Ladies, the floor is yours," Shaw says as he departs back to his throne.

Emma, dressed in the traditional, skimpy Hellfire Club wear, rises to her feet. Isobel had chosen not to indulge in such nonsense and wore a long back dress. They both move to the centre of the room and Isobel begins with the telling of the story of the 3 legendary Stones of Power and of her 400 year quest to find them. She continues with the tale of her defeat at the hands of the X-Men when she tried to capture the Crystal of Fire and how that brought her here, to the Inner Circle to seek her mother's assistance. She goes on to mention Superman's link to the stones and him being the key to gaining them. Finally she mentions her vision which led to the trip to China.

At this point Emma takes up the story and describes the chaos of the fight in China which led to the capture of the Crystal of Air and of Superman.

"You have Superman, here?" Leland asks, sounding most sceptical.

"Indeed we do," Sebastian says, sounding boastful. He stands and walks over to the door which he opens. "Gentleman may I introduce my next nomination for joining our elite group. He goes by the name of Kal but you may know him better as Superman."

At this point Kal strides into the room, smirking to himself as per usual. "Gentleman. The ambience of this room has just improved 100%," he jokes with a sardonic sounding laugh.

Both Pierce and Leland must both admit to being surprised at this turn of events.

"How?" Pierce asks the question as in how did this come about.

"My telepathic skills, naturally," Emma says with some pride in her own work. "And before you ask the next most obvious question he has already proved his loyalty," she cuts short the obvious attack upon her that he's faking. As if she wouldn't know.

"Has he?" Pierce asks with grave doubts. He doesn't trust Emma. Her rapid rise to Queen, surpassing him in the process, has left a sourness.

Emma turns to Shaw. "Sebastian if you would be so kind as to summon our other guests," she politely requests.

Sebastian nods his head to show he is willing to do so. He speaks to the guard outside the door who leaves to bring their guests.

Emma addresses her doubters. "As I was saying after I...reconditioned Superman to our needs, our King asked the same questions you are, about whether this was for real."

"So I offered a way to prove it," Kal jumps in.

"You will hand over these stones to us?" Pierce guesses.

"In time. Problem is one of them was in the hands of my former friends so I offered the next best thing."

"What?" Leland asks.

"The X-Men, powerless and in chains to do with what you wish."

Leland laughs deeply from his large gut, not believing what he is hearing. "You expect us to believe you betrayed your colleagues?"

"Oh ye of little faith," Kal puts him down and to prove his point that is when the X-Men are led in, power inhibiting collars around their necks, chains around their wrists and ankles, still minus Spider-Man and Wolverine.

Pierce and Leland are truly surprised by this.

"Still doubt me?" Kal asks them, with a smug grin.

"You'll never get away with this Superman," Cyclops says. Scott is putting on a show on the basis Clark is working a scheme by saying this.

Kal breaks out into a loud laugh. "Oh Scott. How boringly clichéd. It's a miracle you have ever gotten laid."

"Oh Xavier, you remember my personal assistant don't you?" Shaw asks, holding his hand out in Sage's direction, unable to stop himself rubbing it in a little.

"Sage," Charles says coldly, putting on an act of sounding angry and disappointed.

"Charles," Sage returns coolly. "You should have left well enough alone. If you had not stuck your nose in our affairs we would have been happy to leave you be."

"Lass, if ye expected us t' do that then your mind is not as I remember it," Sean says, making it seem like he is insulting her.

"Your mind was never much to start with Cassidy," Sage retorts.

Sebastian chuckles, amused by the exchange. "Please. Let us be civil," he advises. "We have two further guests I wish to add to this meeting."

At which point, to add to the group, Martha and Amara are brought in, which is a complete shock to the X-Men who did not know till right now that they had come.

"Amara! Martha!" Charles exclaims, not having to pretend to be surprised.

"Yeah. They came and tried to barter for your freedom," Kal gives the reason he is willing to admit right now. "I'm afraid your stupidity is contagious...but it was very enlightening about certain...shall we call them skeletons in the closet. I'm not sure you'll be around long enough to learn of those unless any of you have taken your time-out, used it wisely and decided to switch sides."

"You will find us unmoved from our position," Storm states in her clear, imperial- like authoritative tones.

"You see I try to be nice and where does it get me?" Kal asks, sounding a little exasperated his generosity is being rejected. He pauses momentarily, his gaze distant as if thinking something over before he suddenly claps his hands together hard, making a loud echoing sound that makes a few people present jump. "So lets get this show on the road shall we? I've lived up to my end of the bargain. How about you live up to yours Mr Sebastian Shaw?" Kal asks the man, expectantly.

"Of course." Sebastian turns to his fellow rulers. "I have made my nomination. Time to put it to the vote," he tells them. "What..."

"Stop!" Isobel suddenly interrupts.

Sebastian looks at her, annoyance flaring deep in his eyes. "What?"

"Something is wrong," Isobel says as her eyes dart around the room.

Selene looks at her daughter with a sudden interest. "You sense something," she guesses.

"The stone. It's here," Isobel explains what it is that suddenly caught the edges of her awareness. Since it has been her life's and death's work to obtain them she is quite sensitive to their unique...lets call it vibration.

Selene closes her eyes and reaches out with her mystical senses. Her eyes open, narrowed in concentration "My daughter is correct. It is here," she can confirm.

"I ordered that left in the vault," Sebastian says with clipped anger. "Who has defied my order?" he demands to know.

"Problems, my Liege?" Pierce asks with slightly mocking tones.

Sebastian doesn't respond and walks up to Kal. He looks at the boy with an accusing gaze.

"Search me," Kal says with his usual arrogance.

Isobel walks around Kal, her hand raised as if feeling for the stone. "He doesn't have it," she can confirm.

"Of course not. I haven't been near that vault," Kal insists, sounding insulted at the lack of trust.

Isobel starts to wander round the room, intermingling with all the people present. The X-Men, the guards...

Isobel stops at one of the faceless guards, her head cocking to the side as her eyes peer deeply at him...peer deeply into him. Her hand reaches up to the white mask over his face, which she tears off to reveal...

"Spider-Man!" Kitty cries, mostly just out of shock at seeing the bug-eyed mask of her boyfriend.

"Uh oh. Busted," Spider-Man says in an out of place jovial tone.

"You!" Isobel hisses hatefully.

Spider-Man makes a nervous sounding laugh. "It's Bel right? Wow, it's been a while hasn't it. You know since the last time we met. With the fighting and the kicking your ass and you running away...all the way home to mommy apparently. Geez, even Mysterio isn't that lame...oh what am I saying? Ol' fish-bowl head is way lamer. I'll give you that."

"Do you ever shut up?!" Isobel screams in total exasperation at having to listen to this annoying twit again.

"Perhaps we can skip the witty banter and move to the recapturing him?" Emma suggests, her expression as if that should be painfully obvious.

"Guards!" Sebastian commands and the guards start to converge on Spider-Man.

Spider-Man raises his hands. "Now before we get to the part where I kick your butts you may want to pause and ask yourself this. How long has old Spidey been free and what has that handsome devil been up to?"

Sebastian's brow draws down. "What have you done?" he asks in a low, dangerous tone.

Around Spider-Man's waist is a belt with little pouches. All the guards have them. They hold extra ammo and restraints. He pulls out what looks like a little remote control. "I made this."

"And what is that?" Isobel asks, her tone not one of great fear at that little box.

"It's a remote override for the electronic locks on the power inhibiting collars," Spider-Man states calmly. "And it works like this," he says as he points at the X-Men, presses the button and simultaneously all the collars around the X-Men's neck unlock and fall off.

Immediately Shadowcat phases her chains off while Jean telekinetically rips hers off followed by Cyclops'. They in turn start to free the others and chaos soon erupts as they begin to battle the guards.

"You call this having the X-Men under control?" Leland yells at Shaw just a moment before a thrown guard impacts him, knocking him and his throne backwards.

Shaw turns sharply to Superman. "Do something!" he demands.

Kal rolls his eyes with a painful sigh. "If you insist." He moves in a blur...and grabs Shaw by his jacket before tossing the man through the air, right through his own throne and into the wall hard, almost hitting Sage in the process but she manages to sidestep out of the way. Kal dusts his hands off with an amused smirk. "There. Did something!" he proclaims merrily.

Isobel looks at Kal, completely surprised he actually did that...which takes her attention off Spider-Man which she realises is a mistake the moment after she is cocooned in sticky white webbing. Several French curses, best left untranslated, escape her lips.

Kal zips next to his mother. "See. Told you to have some faith in me," he says smugly.

Martha looks at him, puzzled. "You arranged this?"

"I don't like to boast."

Martha fixes her son a strong gaze.

Kal cracks under the near withering gaze from his mother. "Ok, yes I do and yes I did...but this is not the place for explanations," even Kal realises as he easily picks up a guard who had come at him and throws the poor guy into Pierce.

At this point a loud animalistic roar signals the arrival of a free Wolverine as he, and several guards he is tangling with, come smashing through the door.

A look of relief passes over Storm's features at seeing her boyfriend before she refocusses on battling the guards.

Wolverine pauses in his beating of them with one guard trapped in a head-lock. "Princess? Martha? What are you doing here?" he says with a furrowed brow.

"Oh good. Lets ask stupid questions while we battle the faceless minions. Brilliant strategy," Kal mutters with a roll of his eyes.

"Space Boy. We're going to be having words," Logan promises and he isn't meaning that in a good way. He smashes his fist with its adamantium laced bones into a guard's face.

"Sounds like fun. Can't wait," Kal dead-pans as he boots another guard across the room as he protects his mother. Amara is even getting into the act as she throws fireballs at the poor minions of the Hellfire Club.

"EMMA!" the Professor's telepathic voice slams into his former student's mind. Now that collar is off he can combat Emma on a much more even footing.

Emma grabs her head and struggles to keep him out. The Professor is probably the more powerful telepath. "Get out of my head old man!" she mentally screams back.

"Is this what you left me for? For this madness?" he asks her.

"I do what I have to. Your way will only lead to ruin," she petulantly defends herself.

"I am sorry Emma. I failed you," Charles laments that fact.

"Spare me!" Emma spits in disgust at the Professor's apologies as she fights back and engages him in psychic combat.

During all this Selene remains seated, unmoved, her expression flat before movement stirs in her curvaceous form and she rises to her feet. With a sweep of her hands she flings everyone between her and Kal aside with great force with her magic. She steps forward. "I should have known," she states, surprisingly calmly and not with the rage once might expect from her. "I should have known not to believe you, son of Jor-El."

Kal moves to face her, placing himself between her and his mother. "And yet you did believe me. What does that say about you?" he asks before he suddenly snaps his fingers as he realises something. "Is that how my dear old dad did it? Is that how he beat you? Did he lure you in with sweet words and once your guard was done...POW!" Kal guffaws. "That's it, isn't it! Oh, I may just about owe the old bastard an apology...almost."

"Once upon a time people would cower at the mere thought of incurring my wrath," Selene says.

Kal arches an eyebrow. "I can snap your bones like twigs with my little finger. What do I have to fear exactly?"

Selene smiles coldly. "Oh you will learn fear, son of Jor-El. You will learn that betrayal incurs a wrath that makes even Gods tremble under their beds in fear of it."

Kal looks at his watch in a blatantly disrespectful manner. "Are you done? I have places to be, things to do."

"Done? I haven't even come close to beginning yet," Selene promises with all the dark menace she is capable of. She begins to summon her magics from within.

Kal smirks. "You really think I'm not ready for you, witch. That I haven't thought about how to avoid a replay of our last fight. Oh while we're mentioning that, that, by the way, was really unpleasant," he comments about the way Selene drained him.

"It's nothing compared to what I am going to do to you," Selene promises.

"Yeah. Don't think so," Kal says with a renewed seriousness. He stretches his right hand out in Spider-Man's general direction and the silvery metallic stone, that is the Crystal of Air, comes bursting out of one of the pouches and flies into his hand. "You want to see what this can do?" he asks with a manic grin. Kal zips forward and slams the stone, point first, into the ground at Selene's feet before she can react. There is a bright flash that emanates from the stone and Kal is thrown back.

Selene screams and everyone just stops their fighting and turns their attention to her. She is now off the ground, suspended above the stone, held by an unseen force that is slowly spinning her round and round.

Kal pushes himself back to his feet, still grinning manically.

Back with Sebastian, Sage is helping him to his feet, as a trickle of blood runs down his nose from the impact. "What have you done?!" he demands to know, his voice loud.

"If you want a suggestion, Seb, then run while you can," Kal advises.

Sebastian frowns. Kal has no idea who he is dealing with or that being thrown as he was has simply allowed Sebastian to absorb the kinetic energy and make himself stronger. It is then he feels it. Feels the wind pick up within the room. A wind rotating like Selene is. "A twister?" he asks, incredulously.

Kal chuckles. "Yep and it will continue to grow and in about 5 minutes it will tear this building apart so we can stand here, if you wish and continue this little skirmish but I don't think many of you happen to be as invulnerable as I am."

Harry Leland starts heading for the exit. "You stay here if you wish Shaw. I choose to live to fight another day," he says, his own instinct for self-preservation kicking in above anything else. Besides he can't get revenge on these common peasants if he happens to be dead.

Donald Pierce glares daggers at Shaw, whom he is blaming entirely for this, as Shaw was the one who gave assurances about the boy which have proven totally false...and oh he blames Frost too. "The Lord Imperial shall hear of this!" he declares. Let Shaw and Frost try and talk their way out of this with their supreme leader. Even if they do their day of reckoning is coming, Pierce swears, as he too beats a hasty exit.

The winds picks up more.

"Uh...Cyclops," Spyke says. "I think we should do as Superman suggests and blow this place faster than I take off down the ramp at the skate park."

The wind almost blows Scott off his feet as it spins Selene faster and faster as she curses and swears but can't get herself free and he can see Spyke is correct. "X-Men, we're leaving!" he orders.

"Sebastian," Sage says, in pleading tones as for them to leave.

Sebastian grits his teeth in anger at this situation but he agrees with Sage that they should depart. "We'll meet again boy!" he swears to Superman and that meeting will have an entirely different outcome. He swiftly moves to where his throne was and steps on a hidden switch. A hatch in the floor opens and he and Sage disappear down it. At this the Hellfire guards start running for their own lives.

"That is so clichéd!" Kal whines childishly at the secret trapdoor exit. He claps his hands. "Right then. Time to go. Isobel?" he queries and he turns to get Isobel and finally rescue Lana which will so allow him to boast to the farmboy side of him about succeeding where old Clarkie failed. Except there will be no boasting as all there is left of Isobel is a crumpled pile of webbing. She's gone. "Oh come on!" he complains. "I went through all this and I still don't get to rescue the girl! My life sucks some days!"

"Preaching to the choir," Spider-Man says as that happens in his life all too often.

"ARRHHH!" Selene screeches as she spins in the air, round and round, faster and faster. "You'll pay for this son of Jor-El! I swear it! Even if it takes me an eternity I'll make you pay for this day!"

"I'll be here, waiting, you old hag!" Kal promises, insultingly. He then turns his back to her and goes to pick up his mother to get her to safety.

Meanwhile Jean grabs Emma by the arm. "Now are you coming or do we just leave you here?" she asks the woman she doesn't like at all but Jean is not someone who would just stand and let even Emma Frost get killed.

Emma forcibly takes her arm out of Jean's grip. "I can manage myself," she says between gritted teeth as the wind whips up her long blond hair.

Jean narrows her eyes and telekinetically shoves Emma towards the exit as they all beat a hasty retreat from the increasing winds whose force are starting to peel bits of plaster off the walls.

Being they're in a rush Beast carries the Professor as they start running through the halls of the club for the exit. On the way they come across the Hellions whose attention had been drawn by the noise of the commotion of the scuffle between the X-Men and the guards.

"What is going on?" King Bedlam asks the question everyone is asking.

Everyone looks to Emma to respond and explain it. After all it is her team.

"We're leaving," Emma states coldly.

"With them?" Hellion asks, making a face of derision, while he points at the X-Men.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Kal shouts, totally fed up with how stupidly slow these guys are. "You hear that roaring sound behind us? That's a twister that's about to tear this building...and consequently anyone still happening to be inside to pieces. Now Monet and I can probably survive that but hands up who else is invulnerable? What was that? None of you are? Well then we better stop lolly-gagging around here and get going then shouldn't we sports?" Kal says as mockingly as he can. He then looks down at his mother in his arms. "Was that too subtle?" he asks her.

Martha rubs her brow and reminds herself that this is her son whom she loves dearly.

"We don't have tahme for this," Rogue says. "Come with us or get out of tha dang way!" she tells the Hellions

"Wow it's such a turn on when she takes charge ain't it," Kal says with a hungry smile.

Martha slaps him on the arm for that. He doesn't seem to notice.

Tarot raises her hand. "If it's a vote I'm going with getting out of here."

"I'm with Marie," Firestar agrees.

"Oui. I agree with them," Bevatron says.

Volcana remains quiet as she has been ever since she learnt about her relationship to Mrs Kent and Shaw. She really didn't know how to explain that to her team-mates. Hell she hadn't even told her girlfriend yet.

Monet rolls her eyes at the fact this decision is taking so long. "It is clearly the only sensible thing to do to depart because, as Superman said, only he and I can survive such forces. If any of you cannot see that then I will have to re-evaluate my assessment of your respective intellectual levels...which were not very high to begin with," she says in her superior tones.

"We're going to talk about this teach," Julian promises with a glare at Emma. If she has ruined his chances of making it into the Inner Circle she'll know it.

"Yes. Yes," Emma says. "Now if we're done I believe leaving with all haste is recommended."

With that the Hellions and X-Men head for the exit. As soon as they get outside they turn to see that the funnel of the twister has broken through the roof and high above is the now tiny looking figure of Selene.

"Is that...is that Selene?" Roulette asks, in totally stunned that it could be.

"That's her," Kal confirms cheerfully.

"Holy!" Beef exclaims.

"Is she going to die?" Hellion asks.

"You wish," Emma pours scorn on that idea. "She's immortal. She can't die."

"Perhaps not," Kal concedes as he places his mother down on her feet. "But it will take her awhile to recover I'm betting...which just goes to prove that when I plan a double cross I really plan them!"

Emma glares at him.

Kal turns his attention to her. "Aw what's the matter Em? Did I hurt your feelings with my simple but oh so inevitable deception?" Kal chuckles a little mockingly. "That's right. I was playing you from the start. Don't flatter yourself into thinking you're that good. You're not. You let your greed and lust for power blind you. Besides even if I have been even slightly tempted by what you had to offer why would I want to boldly go where every man has no doubt been before."

"Ooh! Burn sister!" Domino says, having to admit she enjoyed that put down.

Emma's expression goes colder than a winter's day at the North Pole.

"So vhat now?" Nightcrawler asks because here they stand in the street.

"Well first lets deal with Selene," Kal determines the next step. He reaches out with his hand and the stone comes flying into it, still generating it's twister only it comes more focussed and controlled than it had been previously and at the top of the funnel, still trapped, is Selene. Kal closes his eyes and concentrates sending Selene higher and higher until she vanishes from sight. The twister then dissipates as Kal shuts the stone down.

"Where did you send her?" the Professor asks.

Kal shrugs. "Don't really know. Don't really care...but it's going to do more than leave a bruise or two when she lands which even for her I'm betting is really going to hurt," he says, sounding a mite pleased at the pain Selene will suffer through.

Despite taking the fact Selene is immortal and will certainly survive Charles can't help but be concerned at Clark's lack of compassion and care. Even for his 'Kal' persona this seems extreme.

"I repeat, so vhat now?" Nightcrawler asks as they still stand there in the street with their enemies.

Kal lets out a bored sigh. "Now our so-called worthy foes," he says with a loud sarcastic snort as he turns his focus to the Hellions. "Now they leave because it's over."

"You really think that's it?" Hellion asks indignantly. His hands clench into fists and there are visible green sparks as he powers up his telekinesis.

"Yeah. Pretty much," Kal says. "The mighty Inner Circle have fled with their tails between their legs. Selene is going to be...incapacitated for awhile. Isobel ran away...again so what's left to fight over? You can't take this stone from me...and if you try you'll end up where Selene is. Now why don't you go," Kal waves them off. "I'm sure Emma has her terrible vengeance to plan on me for tricking her," he says lazily as if it hardly matters as he doesn't see her as any sort of real threat.

Hellion moves threateningly forward. "Why you little..."

"Julian!" Emma snaps. "Stop. He's right. It's over."

Julian glares at his teacher.

"The police will be here shortly. Do you wish to remain here and explain this?" Emma asks him calmly.

Julian can't say yes, can he. "This is not over," he promises all of the X-Men. He is visibly fuming as are many of the Hellions.

"On that you're right," Cyclops says in agreement. "This isn't over Emma," he promises her specifically with a glare from behind his visor.

Emma manages a tiny smile. "Scott, for us, it is never over," she says, not missing a chance to rile Jean. "Hellions, we depart," she orders.

"We're just letting them go?" Logan asks, rather indignant at the idea they get off scot-free.

"Logan, look around," the Professor requests the feral mutant to do. What he is meaning in particular is the crowd of bystanders that has been drawn in by the twister. "Do you really think it wise to start a fight here, in the middle of New York?" he asks, thinking of all the collateral damage another battle with the Hellions would cause. Both physical and to the image of mutants.

Logan frowns. "That's just delaying it Chuck," he warns that they are simply putting off the inevitable next confrontation.

"Perhaps but I will not start a fight when one isn't necessary."

"You're still a fool Charles," Emma manages off one last sneering comment before her departure from the scene.

"Perhaps I am Emma," Charles humours her. "Good luck."

"Luck?" Emma inquires what he means.

"With defending yourself to your fellow Inner Circle members. I don't believe they'll be happy with you about this," the Professor explains why he feels she needs good luck.

Emma frowns although, unfortunately, she has to concede Charles is correct. "I'll survive old man. Make no doubt of that," she avows.

"I have no doubt. However, if it doesn't go as well as you hope and should you ever need my help you know where I am," Charles makes the offer.

"Hell will freeze over first."

"Stranger things have happened."

Emma snorts loudly as she turns her back on them, her cape swirling around her.

"And you dated her," Domino says to Cyclops. "You can really pick them can't you One-eye."

Scott can hardly believe that was the girl he was once dated. She is so different. So cold and calculating...and amoral. So very different from Jean...which he is very happy about as is the fact he is dating his beautiful, warm, caring girlfriend.

The Hellions turn to leave with their teacher. All except Volcana who is caught, unsure what to do, where to go.

Emma senses this. "Volcana!" she snaps the name, in no mood to be civil. "What are you doing?"

"I...um..." Claire struggles to explain.

"She's coming home to her family," Martha states firmly as she strides over to her daughter and takes her by the hand.

"I'm not sure...that's...uh...that may not be a good idea," Claire argues rather weakly, showing she is very confused about where she should be now.

"Her family is us!" Emma states, irately. Also she is going to be in Sebastian's bad books as is. She is not explaining how she has lost his daughter on top of all of this. Volcana is coming with them, no argument as far as Emma is concerned. She doesn't want to prolong this. She has already had to suffer enough failure today but she will fight for Volcana if she has to.

Claire takes a deep breath and looks at...at her mother and the pull to go with the older woman is very strong but in the end she makes a heart-wrenching choice. "I can't. I can't go with you," she says, her voice choked.

Martha feels like her heart is breaking. "But Claire. You're my daughter," she argues with the girl, placing a gentle hand on her cheek.

"That's why I need to go," Claire says tearfully. "I...it's too much. I need...to...to think. I'm sorry," she whispers before she yanks her hand back and runs off to join her fellow Hellions, leaving behind a distraught Martha Kent, who has her own tears running down her cheeks.

"Daughter?" Storm queries, asking the question everyone else is.

"Long story," Kal responds. "Good story. Funny story but long."

"Can ya beh serious?" Rogue demands.

"Like I told Isobel I can be. I'm choosing not to," is Kal's glib reply.

"You're an ass!"

"Yeah but what a magnificent one I am."

Rogue pinches the bridge of her nose. She had truly forgotten what a gigantic pain Kal is.

Storm moves quickly to her friend's side and places a supportive arm around the older woman. She may not know precisely what is going on but she doesn't need to. Her friend is deeply upset and needs support. That is all she needs to know right this moment.

The Hellions vanish off into the surroundings, disappearing completely from view.

"So does anyone feel like explaining what just happened?" Evan asks, at at total loss.

"Yeah. Like totally," Kitty agrees before turning to her boyfriend. "Like how did you end up dressed as a guard?" she asks. "I thought you were chained up?"

"There's a joke there," Spider-Man says as he puts on an exaggerated look as if he is thinking about it.

"Don't even think it webhead," Logan warns, so not in the mood after the day he has had.

Kal raises his hand. "I'll explain. I mean hearing the sound of my own voice. Now there's an idea I can get behind," he jokes as he volunteers to explain.

"Let us save that for when we get home," the Professor suggests, not seeing hanging around to try and explain this as a good idea. "If that is what you want, Kal?" he asks, hoping the boy agrees to come with them.

Kal shrugs. "Might as well."

Charles is going to take that as Clark agreeing to come with them which is the only option they have. Forcing him would be...difficult at best. There are many questions to be asked. The one that matters for Clark is can they undo whatever Emma has done. Charles hopes so. He takes one last look at the ruins of the Hellfire Club building. This is not over. Shaw escaped. It might take awhile for him to clean up this mess but they'll clash again. It is only a matter of time.

Author's Note: I did consider making this the place where Isobel gets caught and Lana gets saved then I decided that it would be more fun for her to escape leaving this constant reminder to Clark of his failure to save her. Not to mention Isobel can continue to be a thorn in his side. I know it doesn't seem like Kal's 'plan' makes any sense here. I know it'll need to be explained and it will be. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Seeing his mother upset over Volcana's decision to stay with the Hellions Kal decides to 'fix' the situation.