Chapter 71
As soon as Magneto and the Acolytes made the decision to enter the maze that was the moment for Clark and his team to make their way out and fetch the stone. They reach the exit only to be confronted by the mutants Magneto had left behind. There is a man with long white hair, a large man with a brown beard and a shaven head, a teenage boy with spiky brown hair that has a silver streak running through it, a teenage girl with long brown hair and a fairly short teenage girl with short blond hair.
"That is as far as you go," the man with the shaven head states firmly.
The girl with the long brown hair narrows her eyes in righteous fury. "How can you do this? How can you betray our fellow mutants like this?" she demands to know, outraged that the people in front of her have.
"Ugh, you're one of them aren't you," Volcana says in disrespectful tones meaning meeting a fanatic. "Seriously don't get all high and mighty bitch. People are entitled to think how they want. Now take your bigoted, closed-minded, and may I add flabby, ass and get out of our way."
"Subtle, honey," Tarot lightly criticise her girlfriend.
"I don't do subtle," Volcana defends herself.
"All those elocution lessons wasted. Poor mom. She'll be so heartbroken," Superman jokily laments with a sad looking shake of his head.
Volcana's eyes narrow and fire flashes within their orange depths at her brother's so-called attempt at humour.
Sam decides to take charge. "Nightcrawler, Shadowcat. Take Superman, Magma, Multiple and Sunspot and find the stone," he decides. It makes more sense to split up and hold these guys off while Clark goes and fetches the stone.
"And how are you planning to get past us?" the boy with silver streak in his hair asks.
"Don't misjudge us because we're outnumbered," the man with white hair warns.
Sam smiles slightly. They're all close together. "Well I was planning to do this," he says before yelling, "Cannonball!" Sam shoots off the ground and smashes into the group knocking them over like bowling pins. "GO! GO!" he orders hastily.
The whole group run past the fallen mutants. While Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Superman, Magma, Multiple and Sunspot keep going Cannonball, Husk, Boom Boom, Volcana, Berzerker and Tarot form a line to stop any pursuit. Husk sheds her skin and mimics the metal surrounding them. Volcana's hair transforms as she powers up so to speak, Berzerker rubs his hands together and electricity sparks between his hands as he too gets ready, Tarot chooses which of her cards to animate while Boom Boom forms a few of her time bombs in her hands ready to use.
Boom Boom grins a little manically as their opponents get back to their feet, looking pissed. "This is where the fun begins," she says with far too much enthusiasm.
The other half of the group wind their way through Magneto's base, with Clark guiding them as he follows the sound of the stone. He is puffing heavily, still physically very tired from reconfiguring the base. He's just focussing on the here and now. Find and retrieve the stone. How he swaps himself and Magneto back he isn't thinking about now. One thing at a time.
Running through the corridors they come across another small group of 4 mutants. "Nightcrawler, take Superman and keep going," Shadowcat orders as she pushes Clark towards Kurt.
Kurt takes Clark by the arm and teleports on while Shadowcat, Magma, Multiple and Sunspot slam into the small group.
Clark and Kurt reappear several feet down the corridor and only pause long enough to look back and see the sparks of fire as Magma and Sunspot make it hot for their foes.
Clark knows the plan is to get the stone as quickly as possible but he is hating leaving his friends fighting like this. He has Kurt takes a left, then right and then they suddenly slide to a halt. There's a door with a couple of guards. The two heroes jerk back behind the corner and peer round. "It's in there," Clark says in a whisper, the stone's tone louder than ever in his head.
"Got an idea?" Kurt asks as in how they are getting past them.
"Well I am currently the Master of Magnetism ya know," Clark drawls with a lopsided grin.
Kurt matches the grin. "You up to it?" he asks more seriously, knowing how exhausted Clark must be.
Clark nods. "Just give me a distraction," he requests.
"Vell luckily for you distractions are a speciality of zhe Amazing Nightcrawler," Kurt boasts in good humour.
Clark can only shake his head in good humour.
Kurt teleports to the far side of the guards. "Gutten Tag, Gentleman. I vas vondering if you could direct me to zhe bathroom."
The two male mutants advance on Kurt. One is covered in spines like a porcupine while the other has scaly skin.
Clark reaches out with his hand and concentrates hard. With the two mutants backs to him they don't see the two lumps of metal rise from the floor. Clark then directs the lumps to smack them on the back of the head, knocking them out.
Clark blows out a breath and walks over to the door. "Direct me to the bathroom, huh?" he queries from Kurt with a wry grin about that line.
Kurt grins widely and shrugs.
Clark turns his attention to the door and with a little effort uses Magneto's powers to slide it open. He and Kurt step inside the small room which is empty apart from a small box, probably made of lead, sitting on a raised platform. The tone is so loud to Clark now it is almost deafening.
Clark steps forward and opens the box and inside sits the black stone. He reaches for it and wraps his hand around it but while he can hear it he can't feel the same connection to it as when he was in his own body. Chances are he can't get it to stop emitting its sound until he is swapped back round into his own body. His face screws up in discomfort.
"Clark," Kurt says as he moves to his friend's side at seeing him in obvious distress. "You ok?"
Clark slams the box shut. "It's just really loud," he says through a grimace, wishing he could make it stop. "Could you carry the box?" Clark asks because it is almost too much to bear.
"No problem," Kurt assures him as he picks it up.
Clark reaches to his ear and activates a small communicator placed in there, hidden from view. They all have them. How else do you think they were pulling this off in a maze. "Cyclops. We've got the stone."
"Roger that," comes Cyclops reply followed by the signs of a struggle. He must be fighting someone. "Get back here ASAP," he directs.
"Roger and out," Clark replies as he and Kurt make the dash back to the maze, aiming to pick up the rest of their team on the way. They find Multiple, Magma and Sunspot have subdued the other group of mutants...well it looks more like Multiple did by creating a small army of himselves which seem to have dog-piled the other mutants into submission.
"Vhere's Kitty?" Kurt asks the very obvious question.
Jamie, Roberto and Amara look around surprised. "Uh...don't know," Roberto gives the only answer he can.
Clark rolls his eyes and tries his communicator. "Shadowcat, respond."
Nothing.
The 5 teenagers start to get concerned.
Kurt tries his communicator with the same result. Nothing.
"Did she phase while you were fighting?" Clark asks.
"Yes," Amara remembers seeing Kitty phase.
"She's shorted it out," Kurt says in a half-complaint at his friend.
Clark raises a hand to his head and shakes with a weary sigh. He is worried about Kitty but this is so typical.
"Look, you guys go ahead," Amara ends up taking charge. "We'll look for her."
"You're sure Amara?" Clark asks, not wishing to just run off and abandon anyone.
"Yeah," Roberto says, backing Amara up. "Go. Get your body back. We'll find Kitty," he promises, sounding more serious which is quite a contrast his usual normal arrogant self.
Clark looks at Kurt and can see the same reluctance to leave as Clark is feeling but they have to go and just have faith in their friends. Clark and Kurt move on, hoping Kitty is alright.
Kitty wakes up with a groan. An assessment of her situation finds herself lying on a cold metal floor. She takes a moment to recall what happened. She was fighting the group of mutants, grabbed this boy and then...then there was darkness and now she finds herself here.
Wherever here is.
Kitty sits up...and finds herself looking into the face of a girl with long dark hair and bandages wrapped over her eyes sitting there crossed-legged. The girl has a strange smile on her face. "Hi!" Kitty squeaks.
"Hello," the girl replies pleasantly.
"So, um, I'm..."
"Katherine Anne Pryde. Codename: Shadowcat. I've been expecting you," the girl states.
"How did..."
"Did I know that? It's what I do, thank you, please."
Kitty looks puzzled. "I don't, like, understand."
"I see what is, what could be, what might be, what must never be, what is here, what is there, what is elsewhere, yes, no."
Kitty is trying to figure out what this girl means. At least she doesn't seem hostile. Still where is she?
"It was a teleporter if you please."
"What?"
"How you ended up here, thank you. The boy you were fighting is a teleporter."
"Oh," Kitty finally gets what happened to her. "But how did you, like, know that? Are you psychic?"
The girl giggles. "It's funny, yes, no. To know what you will say and yet still can't be able to prevent your confusion. I see that which for you has not happened yet, you're welcome."
'Gee this girl talks oddly,' Kitty muses but she thinks she might have worked it out now. "You see the future?"
The girl nods.
"What's your name?"
"Ruth but the others call me Blindfold, thank you."
"Ruth," Kitty chooses to use. "Wait a minute,"she says as something suddenly occurs to her.
"Yes. I was how Magneto always knew where you were, you're welcome," Ruth answers the question before Kitty asks it.
"Why?" Kitty asks as in why did she do that.
"If I did not he and Superman would never have swapped bodies and you would not be here to rescue me...please, rescue me," her words suddenly become a plea.
"You're...a prisoner?"
"There are 6 outside that door, to keep me here," Ruth explains pointing at the door to her room.
Kitty's eyes widen. 6! For one slim girl who doesn't look like she could really harm anyone. That's complete overkill.
"This is the part where you offer to take me with you and promise me jell-o, yes, no. Oh, I'll have the blue jell-o."
"Um...ok, blue jell-o? You sure?"
Ruth smiles lightly. "Yes."
"But...um if you see the future don't you, like, already know what's going to happen?"
Ruth laughs lightly and shakes her head. "There are many futures and even I do not always know which one our actions will bring to pass, please."
"Ok. I'll help you," Kitty offers because what else is she to do.
"I already packed," Ruth says, pointing at a rucksack on her bed.
Kitty stands up and picks up the rucksack and then looks around at the stark room. Good god how long has Magneto been keeping this poor girl like this. Ruth too rises to her feet. She points at the far wall, away from the door. "We need to go that way, you're welcome."
Kitty sees no point in arguing with the girl who can see the future. Besides fighting the 6 goons outside the door isn't exactly a desirable option. She holds her hand out and Ruth takes it.
Kitty phases them and they walk through the wall. Kitty's eyes take a moment to adjust to the next room they step into. "What is this?" she has to ask. "It totally looks like some place Dr Frankenstein would find at home."
"The never dying man conducts his Sinister experiments," Ruth rattles off.
Kitty can tell this girl is going to make her head hurt but it does look like some creepy lab. Kitty can't even guess at what sort of experiments are being conducted in here. "Which way?" she asks, so not wishing to hang around in here for this 'never dying man' to return.
Ruth points and Kitty heads off in that direction. They pass a line of cages with varying animals within that have been dissected. Kitty feels sick. It is then she hears a strange sort of low rumbling noise from one of the cages.
Kitty stops and leans in, peering into the cage. Her eyes struggle to see through the gloom. Then her brain struggles to comprehend what she sees. In the cage, about the size of a house cat, with a bandaged torso as if it had an operation recently...no. It can't be what Kitty thinks it is.
Because if it is what Kitty thinks it is...well it looks like...
Is that a tiny, purple...dragon?
When Clark and Kurt rejoin the skirmish of the other half of the team they find it still being hotly contested...and Sam on the floor. Clark and Kurt help him up. He's a little groggy.
"You alright?" Clark asks.
Sam rubs his head. "Yeah."
"Vhat happened?"
"It was her," Sam points at the girl with short blond hair. "She did something while I was flying. Disrupted my powers so when I hit something it hurt."
"She disrupted your blast field," Clark guesses Sam means, referencing the field of energy Sam generates around himself when he flies making him pretty much invulnerable. Without that flying would be incredibly dangerous in the way Sam does it.
The 3 boys take in the battle. The girl with long brown hair, known as Unuscione, can seem to create this green forcefield...like a sort of armour around herself that can strike out in the shape of a giant fist. She is currently fighting one of Tarot's constructs. Appropriately the card of Strength which in the version of cards Tarot uses is a man with a club and a lion. The man is vaguely suppose to resemble Hercules.
Volcana is rolling her eyes in extreme boredom as the man with long white hair surrounds her with fire projected from his hands. She raises her own hand and lowers it and the fire lowers at her command. "Seriously? I'm a pyrokinetic too, you stupid asswipe," she insults him for trying to hurt her with a fire attack.
The man, known as Burner, narrows his eyes, irritated by the girl's insults. He tries to punch her and Claire blocks. As they circle around each other Claire smirks. "You and I may have similar powers but you have a weakness I don't that can always be exploited," she says.
"Oh and what is that?" Burner asks as he attacks her again.
Claire lets him get close, deflects his punch and then sharply brings her knee up between his legs until she hits the two prize targets. Burner stops dead as Claire grabs him the lapels of the coat he has on. She brings her lips to his ears. "That one," she whispers in response to his question, a look of pure, near sadistic, enjoyment at the blow she hit him with. She throws him away as he collapses to the ground, his hands grasping his most sensitive area.
Claire dusts her hands off and goes off to aid her girlfriend.
Husk finds herself facing off against the boy with the silver streak in his hair. He manages to grab her arm and then he activates his power. He is called Chrome and can transmute elements. He transforms Paige from metal into a frozen crystal like material. Chrome smirks coldly. He leans in and whispers into Paige's ear. "Shouldn't have messed with me, little girl. I'm a master of elements," he boasts, taking pride in doing something that may have well killed her.
Paige remains stationary until, suddenly, her eyes blink and she slams her head into his, knocking him out cold. She reaches up and rips the crystal skin off her face, partially revealing her flesh one underneath. "Shouldn't have messed with meh, little boy," she retorts.
"You go girl!" Boom Boom cheers Paige on as she rolls out of the way of the man known as Delgado who could increase his size and consequently his strength. She throws a few of her time bombs into his face blinding him. It doesn't slow him down much. 'Damn,' Tabby thinks to herself. This guy was tough.
Berzerker was finding the girl who punk'd Cannonball a pain. The girl, known as Phantazia, could manipulate electromagnetic energy fields and therefore was particularly effective against someone who generated electricity. Ray's attacks she pretty much deflected off with ease.
Clark watches this and an idea strikes him. "Cannonball, help Boom Boom," he decides. "Nightcrawler, take me to Husk," he asks of Kurt.
Sam shakes his head and summons up his power. He propels himself off the ground. "Boom Boom! Need one of your big ones!"
"AW! All ya had to do was ask, honey!" Tabby quips as she throws into his path the biggest time bomb she can manage in the time.
Sam grabs it and slams into the now very large man Delgado had become. The ball explodes, the force magnified and combined with the force Sam himself impacts into the man. Delgado goes flying, his body smoking and rolls across the ground a few times before coming to a stop and doesn't get back up.
Kurt and Clark appear next to Husk who lets out a small yelp in surprise.
"Husk, can you change into plain old stone?" Clark asks of her.
"Sure," Paige confirms she can do this. "Why?"
"For her," Clark points at Phantazia. Clark's guess is that she manipulates electromagnetic fields ins some way, hence how she disabled Sam and is warding Ray off. That and he can pretty much sense what it is she is doing...he thinks. He still has only a very limited understanding of Magneto's senses.
Paige concentrates for a few moments before shedding her skin and turning to stone. She then runs over at the blond haired girl. She whistles. "Hey! Blondie!" she yells to get her attention.
Phantazia spins round. She tries to use her power but the girl isn't affected in anyway. Next thing she knows is her face being hit by a stone fist and out like a light she goes.
"How did you know zhat vould vork?" Kurt asks Clark.
"Stone doesn't generate any sort of electromagnetic field," Clark explains his thinking. "Better living through science."
Meanwhile Volcana had distracted Unuscione's attention with her attacks. Tarot concentrates all her energy into making her construct as strong as possible. The man swings his club hard and with Unuscione's focus elsewhere the club smashes through the green energy armour. The psionic backlash makes her scream out in pain before she falls over in a heavily stunned state.
"So vaht now?" Kurt asks since they pretty much have this small scuffle dealt with.
"Now we find Magneto and get my body back," Clark says with total determination. He can just hope that while he was gone the others have managed to subdue Magneto.
"Sister?" Wanda queries, completely taken aback by the girl's claim. The girl she is still pinning down to the ground.
Lorna nods and tries to appeal to her sister. "Yes...well half-sister. My name is Lorna...and can you get off of me please?"
Wanda's grip loosens and she slides backwards off of the girl and just sits there on the floor in a stunned state.
Lorna sits up and tries to give an open, welcoming expression. "Hi," she says.
Wanda's face twitches as emotions flash through her. "Hi," she croaks out.
"I...um...it's really nice to meet you, finally," Lorna says, genuinely pleased to meet her sister finally although circumstances could have obviously been better.
"W-what do you mean, sister?" Wanda asks, her brain failing to wrap itself around that one.
"Uh...it's sort of self-explanatory. We have the same father."
Father. Wanda's head snaps round to glare at the figure in her 'brother's' body, that is only barely moving. She turns back to the girl. "Look...Lorna, I don't know what pack of lies he sold you..."
Lorna takes offence at that. "He hasn't lied to me!" she insists. "He has been completely honest. I know why you and he had a falling out."
"Do you?" Wanda questions that, sceptical as hell that her father told the true story.
"Look, you lost your mother. I can sort of understanding. My mother..." Lorna trails off as the pain wells up at the though of her mother in that coma. Her mother isn't dead but she's as good as in many ways. She returns to what she was about to argue to her sister about. "But dad, lost his wife and he may not have been as sympathetic to your grief as he should have been."
"Not as sympathetic?" Wanda queries that, her tone icy cold and the whole atmosphere around them literally chills. "Not as sympathetic?" she repeats, only venomous anger is slipping into her tone. "Are you fucking kidding me?!" she shrieks.
In Wanda's anger the whole vicinity begins to warp as the metal of the walls and floor begin to take on impossible shapes.
Lorna scrambles to her feet as Wanda rises to her.
Wanda's face is twisted in rage and her hands are clenched tight into fists. Sparks of scarlet red energy fly off her fists in all directions. Her anger glare focusses in on her 'sister'. "I don't know if you're just gullible or stupid or both but let me explain to you what he is," she points at her father. "He's an unfeeling monster! And the whole world will be better off without him! I know I certainly will be!" she shouts with years of repressed hatred flowing out of her.
The glow of energy around Wanda's fist grows more intense as a new hex-sphere starts to form around her father.
Before Wanda can finish it Lorna dashes directly in the way in between her sister and her father, forcing Wanda to stop her casting.
"Get out of my way!" Wanda screams.
"No," Lorna says with steely determination to protect her father.
"Last chance. Move!" Wanda warns.
"No," Lorna repeats even in the face of her sister's rage. "He's our father," she explains why she can't move.
"He is no father of mine," Wanda dismisses any attempt to call Magneto her father. "And anyone who stands with him is no family of mine," she adds.
"You're wrong!" Lorna cries in desperation. "We are family!" she argues. All Lorna has wanted from the day she discovered Magneto was her father was to try and bring her family back together.
"I have a family. They're called the X-Men."
At hearing this a dull pain leaches through Magneto's heart. To have Wanda so completely reject him...
Lorna's face falls at her seeming failure to reach her sister. "I can't let you hurt him," she says at a whisper.
"You don't get a choice in the matter," Wanda states bluntly.
"Then I'm sorry," Lorna says, sorrowful for what is about to happen.
"Not as sorry as he is going to be," Wanda promises.
Lorna reaches out with her powers, a green electromagnetic field flares up around her and the floor rises between her and Wanda, creating a barrier.
"Of course she would have his powers," Wanda mutters. "You made your choice," she states flatly. "Now live with the consequences and learn why no-one crosses the Scarlet Witch!"
Speaking of witches brings us back to Isobel engaging in her duel with Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. She sends a mystical bolt at him which he deflects into the wall.
Stephen's strategy in this had been simple. Prolong it until Isobel tired herself out. Lacking her spell book she could not engage him in a prolonged contest and by the way she is breathing hard he reckons he is almost ready to bring down the finale upon her. With a sweep of his cape he sends a small sandstorm at her, blinding her. Isobel turns to shield her face only to come face to face with Dr Strange who had teleported in behind her. "I summon the Crimson Bands of Cyttorax!" he chants. "Bind this spirit!"
Instantly countless bands of ruby energy wrap themselves around Isobel's form. With a gesture of his hand Stephen raises her off the ground so they are at the same eye level.
Isobel sneers in pure fury. "You think this to hold me?!" she snarls.
Stephen smiles gently. "Perhaps at your peak, with your spell book, you could break those bonds but alas you have neither the raw strength nor your book." His voice grows more serious. "Your violation of the poor girl you possess is at its end, Countess."
Isobel struggles hopeless against the mystical bonds that hold her. "I will not go! You hear me! I! Will! Not!"
Stephen sighs. He doubted she would willingly go. That means forcibly extracting her. That means an exorcism. Not a ceremony to be performed here. She will have to return with him to the Sanctum.
"Y-you caught her," an astonished tone interrupts.
Stephen turns his head to see Superman, Nightcrawler, Cannonball, Boom Boom, Husk, Volcana, Tarot and Berzerker have joined him.
Superman walks forward until he can look Isobel in the eye. He was the one who spoke. He truly is astonished that after his many weeks of failure that they can finally save Lana.
Isobel growls and spits in Superman's face. "Don't get too cocky, farmboy. I am not going anywhere," she swears, defiant to the end.
"Can we gag her?" Boom Boom asks.
Isobel shoots Tabby a death glare for that.
"Probably a wise idea," Dr Strange agrees as he reaches into his pocket and produces a handkerchief which he ties over Isobel's mouth. He turns his attention to Superman. "Your part of the mission was a success I trust?"
"Yeah we have the stone," Clark confirms as Kurt holds up the box containing it.
"Then let us finish this," Stephen declares as he casts a teleportation spell and moves the whole group to do that very thing. To finish this.
Elsewhere in the maze the mission wasn't entirely going to plan for a certain arachnid themed superhero. "Great," Spider-Man mutters to himself. "First I get lost then I have to deal with the overgrown kitty-cat," he complains as he uses all his agility to bounce around off the walls and avoid Sabretooth ripping him apart. "Look what if I offered you a really big ball of string. Wouldn't that be more fun than trying to harm little 'ol me?"
Sabretooth's response is to roar and try and slice Spider-Man up with his claws. Peter manages to leap out of the way...barely and Sabretooth's claws embed into the metal.
"Wow that can't be good for your manicure," Spider-Man quips.
Sabretooth extracts his claws, growling. This little punk was getting on his nerves with his endless chatter. "I am going to rip your throat out," he promises under a growl.
"You know have you tried a lozenge for you throat? You're sounding a little hoarse."
Sabretooth makes ready to pounce at Spider-Man when suddenly he roars in pain as something impacts him several times very quickly. Eventually the barrage sends him down to the ground.
Spider-Man looks up and sees a certain bluish-white skinned mutant with 2 pistols. Two pistols capable of delivering a stunning effect capable of putting Logan down. She knows that for certain because they tested them by having her shoot Logan...a lot. Good times! Anyway if they can put Logan down they can put Sabretooth down.
"Good timing," Spider-Man has be grateful.
Domino holsters her weapons and smirks. "You should have offered him some cat-nip instead."
"Darn it!" Spider-Man complains with a snap of his fingers at now thinking of that.
"Aren't you suppose to be helping Wolverine and Beast?" Domino asks, her gaze dropping the sonic gun on the floor...in pieces.
Spider-Man rubs the back of his apologetically. When Sabretooth jumped him the feral mutant managed to break the gun. Being a bit of a science geek he knows how much it sucks when something you make breaks so feels for Beast when he has to explain this. He then suddenly remembers something and retorts at Domino, "Aren't you suppose to be helping too?"
Domino looks sheepish. "I'm blaming Dr Bizarro for sending me to the wrong place," she makes the excuse.
"Um, yeah. Me too!" Peter decides to use that excuse.
"Right," Domino says in a tone how she isn't buying that.
"I won't tell if you won't tell," Peter makes the offer for them not to rat out the each other that they got lost.
"Deal," Domino agrees. She then pulls out from her shoulder holster the gun with the tranquilliser darts. "Shame. I would have loved to have put a few of these into old Mags," she says a little misty eyed, sad that she couldn't.
"I don't know if that is worrying or not but at least they're only tranquillisers. Anyway it..." Peter trails off as his Spider-sense flares up. His eyes dash around looking for the danger but doesn't see anything. Before he knows it pain rips through him, like being electrocuted. As he sinks to his knees he can see Domino's form has lightning dancing across it as she too drops to the floor. The voltage is too much and Peter drops to the ground stunned but still conscious enough to see the lightning coalesce into the form of Live Wire, smiling gleefully.
Live Wire walks over to Domino's fallen form and picks up the tranquilliser pistol. "Thanks honey," she says to the equally stunned, as Spider-Man, mutant. She brings the pistol to eye level and studies it. "At last," she mutters to herself. "At last, time for some long overdue revenge." Live Wire than cackles madly as her lower half turns back into lightning and she surfs over the metal floor at incredible speed searching out the one she seeks to have vengeance upon.
Lorna's first barrier hadn't lasted long as Wanda hexed the metal causing it to turn to liquid and collapse.
In response Lorna raised a few misshaped metal lumps and reluctantly flung them at her sister.
Wanda hexed each one turning them into different things. Flowers, sand, jelly beans...ok so she didn't mean to do that last one. Give her a break. She's new at transmutation.
Magneto, now recovered up to a sitting position was astonished by the display of Wanda's new abilities. He had no idea she was capable of doing this.
Wanda was trying very hard to keep her temper in check. "Ok. Enough," she says finally having enough. She sends a good old-fashioned hex-bolt into the ground causing the ground to rise and fall in waves. With Lorna's balance off Wanda hexes her, sending her flying and neutralising her powers. Lorna impacts the wall hard and lays, dazed on the ground.
"No more games, father. No more sending little girls to protect you," Wanda tells him.
Magneto pushes himself to his feet. "Wanda, it need not be this way," he makes one last attempt to reach his daughter.
"I think it does. You shall pay a hundred fold for everything you did to me!"
Before Wanda can do anything the metal wall to her right explodes and Colossus steps through. Magneto has to be thankful for the big Russian's timing because whatever Wanda did to him before has weakened this body even more.
"I am afraid I cannot allow you to harm him," Colossus says, not out of love for Magneto but for his sister.
"You can't stop me," Wanda says in tight tones.
"He doesn't need to," an echoing voice says as behind Magneto, Dr Strange and the rest appear. Beast and Wolverine finally manage to pull themselves to their feet after the force with which Magneto threw them.
"It's over Magneto," Clark states. "I want my body back."
Magneto's eyes narrow. He's too weak to fight all of them but he won't give up. Suddenly a green mist appears...and not the one associated with Haze. This is more like a green cloud and next to Magneto a woman with brown hair appears.
Beast's eyes widen in shock. "Amelia!" he gasps in recognition of the woman. In return she gives him an icy glare.
"Oh no, you don't!" Clark proclaims as he grabs the box containing the stone from Kurt, runs and dives at Magneto as he and the woman begin to disappear into another cloud.
When the cloud clears all 3 are gone.
The cloud reappears elsewhere in the maze and the second the 3 individuals reform Clark clocks Magneto as hard as he can over the head with the lead box.
Clark finds his arm grabbed by the woman but he summons Magneto's power and a metal line, pulled out of the metal floor, wraps around her tight. "Stay out of this," Clark states coldly. He then summons another line to wrap around Magneto.
"Impressive," Magneto has to reflect at the way Superman has mastered his powers. "Charles I assume," he guesses as to how he gained such mastery so quickly.
"You really need me to answer that?"
"No."
Clark opens the box, ignores the head-piercing noise and grabs the stone. Without another word he advances on Magneto. Just before he can slap the stone into Magneto's hand, the mutant terrorist breaks free and slams a punch into Clark's midsection before delivering one to his his face sending him crashing back.
"Your friends hadn't quite succeeded in draining this body's powers," Magneto states as Clark lies crumpled on the floor, breath knocked out of his lungs.
Clark curses himself. Magneto was playing possum and he fell for it.
Magneto straightens himself up. "Now I am not a cruel man as you may think. I can still use you for your knowledge of the stones. I give you this one final chance to join me."
"Never," Clark says breathlessly.
Magneto sighs. "Very well," he says in acceptance as he zips forward and lifts Superman up by the throat. He pulls his fist back when there is a prick into his neck. Magneto pulls it out to see a little dart. He suddenly feels very woozy.
Clark had managed to hang onto the stone and as Magneto's grip loosens he slams the stone into Magneto's palm. There is a blinding light and next thing he knows he is on the ground and finds himself looking at Magneto's own collapsed body. He's back in his own body!
A strangled cry from the female teleporter and flashes of lightning get his attention. Clark struggles to his feet, trying to fight off the effects of the sedative. Luckily it was only one dart. He is barely standing when he is slammed with an enormous electrical attack. In his weakened state he can't stop the cry of pain as he crumples back to the ground. Next thing Clark know is being rolled onto his back and being straddled. He looks up into the chalk-white face with the sadistic grin. "Live Wire."
Live Wire's grin becomes more insane if anything. She leans down and whispers in his ear. "Hi...Clarkie!" she coos.
Clark's eyes widen.
Live Wire looks into his face and smirks at his expression. "Oh yes I remember...everything. It's funny ain't it. Everyone else has forgotten the truth of you but for me it was so different. That day, when somehow everyone forgot, was the day everything came back to me. Care to explain that one?"
"I can't," Clark gives the honest answer. He doesn't know how that could have happened.
Live Wire bends down again and her breath tickles his ear. "Don't worry. I didn't tell them. It's our little secret and will remain so if you do one tenny tiny favour for me," she requests.
"What?"
"Say it. Say my name. Say the name they tried to rob my very memory of," she asks of him.
"Leslie," he breathes the name he believes she is asking him to speak.
Live Wire shifts her balance on him and actually smiles warmly. "It's been so long since I've heard that name," she says, almost nostalgic for it...almost as if she misses being just plain old Leslie Willis. She then hears groans behind her from Magneto. "Hang on dear. I've got something to deal with." Live Wire slams her hand over Clark's heart and sends a huge electric surge into him to immobilise him. She rises to her feet and turns to confront her 'boss'.
Live Wire slams an electric attack into him sending him flying. "You! You despotic old bastard! I have business with you!" she says with pure hate.
Magneto scrambles back up only for Live Wire to slam another attack into him before he can recover and he lies there sprawled on his back, his body literally smoking slightly.
Live Wire advances and picks up the black stone that had been dropped when she hit Clark. She stands over Magneto and slams her foot hard into his chest, driving the air from his lungs and pinning him down. "I remember," she says, her tone like acid. "I remember you siccing your troll of a telepath on me...and I've been waiting. Waiting for the right moment to make you pay! You will suffer!" she swears darkly as she points down at him. Electrical energy surges from her fingertip striking into Magneto.
Live Wire then grasps the stone in both hands, raises it above her head, the pointed end aimed down and with a cry of rage and hate she slams it down into Magneto's prone form...and by doing so she has no comprehension of the darkness that she is unwittingly unleashing upon the Earth.
Deep space...
Floating through the vastness of space is a group of rocks. In the middle of that is a black triangular shaped object. A ship from a particularly point of origin.
Within the ship lie two figures. A man and a woman. Both are trim figures in peak psychical shape. The man has brown skin and no hair. The woman has long dark hair and fair skin. Both are dressed in what would appear to be some sort of metallic armour that covers the upper part of their chests and what on Earth would be considered skirts.
The internal lights come on and the two figures wake up from the long stasis they have been in since Krypton was destroyed. They open their eyes to reveal they have identical luminous green eyes. It's a familial genetic trait. They're cousins after all.
The man, Nam-Ek, speaks. "Report, Brainiac," he commands to know why they have been awakened from the AI known as the Brain Interactive Construct, shortened to Brainiac, that is the ship essentially.
"Human blood has touched one of the 3 stones that were left on the planet the primitives call Earth," Brainiac reports. What Live Wire doesn't know that as soon as she slammed it into Magneto it sent a powerful signal out that Brainiac detected.
"What does it mean?" the woman, Aethyr seeks clarification.
"Either humans have discovered the stones or Kal-El has finally come of age and is seeking them."
"Kal-El," Nam-Ek repeats that name. "Finally," he says as if this moment has been waited for, for far too long.
"Do you believe he can be persuaded to help us?" Aethyr wonders.
"There is no way to know how being raised by the primitives of that world will have affected his thinking," Nam-Ek cautions against raised expectations.
"Still, he will have been exposed to the yellow sun for a long time now. It would be foolish to confront him if we can instead persuade him to join us," Aethyr cautions against rushing into a conflict with Kal-El. If they can avoid a conflict...if they can manage to persuade Kal-El of the righteousness of their quest and have him join them...surely that is preferable. It would make it so much easier to achieve their goals.
"We shall give him one chance," Nam-Ek decrees.
"Brainiac, do you know where on the planet Jor-El sent him?" Aethyr inquiries.
"I have extensive knowledge of my creator's life and of his inexplicable fondness for these humans. I believe the most likely location is a small habitation he visited when he was a young man. It is near a Kryptonian outpost. The primitives refer to it as Smallville," Brainiac deduces.
"Then take us to this...Smallville," Aethyr commands. It was the very least a place to start the search for Kal-El.
The ship powers up its engines and makes the shift into Trans-Warp. Destination: Smallville, Earth. In its wake it drags all the rocks around it along. Drags them to crash into that very same destination they are heading to in a repeat of what transpired the day the infant Kal-El crashed down to Earth.
Nam-Ek closes his eyes, mediating in preparation for the mission ahead. It was all as their master foresaw. He tells Aethyr the following. "Either way it makes no difference. If Kal-El chooses to join us or not. We shall not fail. Zod shall be free and Krypton shall be reborn."
Author's Note: Yes, Kitty. It is a little purple dragon. Time for Lockheed to make his début. Well Live Wire's revenge had to come at some point and isn't this beautiful coincidental timing. Plus I needed to concoct some way for blood to fall upon the stone and now that it has the Disciples of Zod(yes they really were called that on the show) are coming...and I know I could have had them come to Earth anywhere but lets just stick with the show and have Smallville wrecked all over again. I know Wanda could have told her story to Lorna as an example of what Magneto is truly like but when does Wanda just open up like that? Also she just flew into a rage and it never occurred to her...and I'm not yet ready for Lorna to see her father for who he truly is and leave him at the moment. Phantazia was a member of Toad's version of the Brotherhood of Mutants very briefly before vanishing from the roster without any explanation ever which is a shame because she does have a useful power. Down the line sometime I could make it possible she is capable of disrupting even Clark's bio-electric field, significantly weakening him. Burner, Unuscione, Chrome, Delgado and Amelia(who has a whole history with the Professor to exploit) were Acolytes in the comics and even appeared in the 90s cartoon two-parter Sanctuary along with Frenzy and Fabian Cortez. Didn't feel like adding Cortez just yet. Wow, long note today huh? Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Live Wire isn't finished getting her payback, not by a long shot and the X-Men still have to make their getaway.