August 19, 1992

Clarice leapt to her feet. She could see Luna pulling closer towards her brother as the first soldiers charged into the camp.

"Get back, all of you!" she shouted.

She plucked a few of her crystals out of her quiver and threw them at the nearest soldiers. They disappeared in a cloud of pink light. The others kept pushing forward, and Clarice drew out two more crystals.

Although she had allowed her hair to grow long, she had never allowed herself to grow out of shape. Some of the children at their facility had found dance or martial arts as a good release. They had needed someone to teach them.

There were other reasons. They would never tell the X-men this, but sometimes the gangs that the children had fled from wanted them back. It was nothing that she couldn't handle, especially with Calvin by her side. The gangs were untutored thugs. They had learned their craft in a militia. She supposed that it had always leant credence to Calvin's claims to understand the children.

Clarice summersaulted over the nearest soldiers. She aimed low and used her crystals to cut at their feet. A few fired some shots at her, but she activated one of her crystals and teleported behind a soldier.

She kicked him in the chest and sent him to the ground. Another raised his gun, but a glowing card landed on him. The card exploded as Remy jumped into the fray, his staff slamming into someone's face.

Clarice pulled back so she was standing back to back with him.

"It's been a while," she said, "But I assume Cyclops taught you how to fight as a pair."

"Had ta do fifty simulations on it," Remy said.

"Sounds about right," Clarice said.

She tossed one of her crystals at an approaching soldier. She heard the sound of fighting in another part of the camp, and she assumed that the rest had heard the sounds of the battle. Good: they needed everyone they could get.

There was a flash of pink light. Calvin appeared. He looked surprised, but he quickly turned his skin to diamond. He began smashing his way through the nearest soldiers to him, making his way over to her. He'd never let her fight without him.

"Gambit," Clarice said, "I need you to make sure the kids waiting to be teleported got out of here."

She tossed another crystal.

"More importantly, you need to make sure Max and Luna are out of the way," she said, "It looks like Sinister was after them last time."

"Ya think they be the intended targets?" Remy asked.

"It's likely," Clarice said, "And I need someone who can blow a lot of people up watching their backs."

"Ya asked da right person," Remy said.

He jumped off into the distance as Calvin reached her side.

"Just like old times, huh?" he asked.

Clarice threw another crystal.

"Let's just hope that I don't have to save you too much," she said.

Calvin laughed as he plunged into another line of soldiers. Clarice weaved around them. They were all clumsy, and she wondered why Sinister would hire so many. He had usually had soldiers with them. His scientific experiments had always brought him money, enough to hire people to do anything he wanted.

He had never had so many. She had to wonder why he had chosen now to create such an army, and why he felt that he needed it. Clarice weaved amongst a few of them and plunged one of her crystals into a soldiers shoulder. She used it to gain leverage and kick another one.

From the far side of the clearing she saw Terry rush in, followed by Deadpool. They were shooting, which surprised Clarice. She wasn't used to working with guns. Terry only used her gun for a little while though, using her hands when she got close enough. Clarice saw Deadpool draw swords before she turned back to her own fight.

Clarice felt something throw her into the air. She hit the ground hard and saw a large fist heading for her. She activated her crystal and teleported away. When she claimed her new spot the ground was shaking from the impact.

Her opponent turned and faced her. In the rising sun she could see gray skin covered in blue tattoos. Clarice drew another crystal. She could see her husband punching his way towards her, seeing that who she was fighting was different.

The man held out his hand and Clarice was lifted into the air. She teleported away, landing behind him and slashing at his arm with one of her crystals. It shattered on his arm as he turned around.

She stared. That had never happened. She hadn't even known that her crystals could shatter. She twirled to avoid his fist, but she felt his other fist slam into her. Her ribs cracked under the impact and she was sent to the ground.

"You have, I think, the normal allotment of bravery for an X-man," he said, "Above average, but nothing terribly unique."

She thought she saw him twist his lips into a smile of disappointment.

"Mediocre," he said.


Finding Max and Luna had been easier than Remy had thought. They had been leaving the area, but he was faster than both of them. He saw two soldiers heading their way and sent two cards towards them.

Remy had just reached them when he saw Rogue coming out of one of the tents, looking shocked. She still had his coat over his shoulders, so Remy wasted no time in grabbing her arm and pulling her with the rest.

She didn't question him. Rogue might not be a warrior, but Remy could see that she had the makings of one. She had the makings of a great many things, some of which sent his head spinning and his heart pounding. It was better to think about it at a later time, but still.

There was a flash of black smoke and David appeared along with Kurt. Remy saw Boom-Boom running up from the other side of the camp, throwing disks of light at a few of the soldiers. The explosions showed that she had hit her targets.

"What's happening?" David asked.

"Some soldiers broke in," Remy said, "Blink an Mimic were takin care of it when they told me ta get Max an Luna."

"Right," David said, "Where-?"

There was a crash. Remy saw Calvin, only he'd been flung to the ground. There were a few hairline cracks in his diamond skin. There was a flash of pink light and Clarice appeared next to him, grabbing his arm. She was walking awkwardly, and Remy knew that her ribs had been broken.

The sound of gunfire filled the air. Terry and Deadpool were standing next to each other, both emptying their guns at unseen targets. Two tents were ripped apart, and a giant stormed into the area, the bullets ricocheting off his skin. Remy gaped. He'd never seen the man before, but something told him he didn't want to get into a fight with him. Something else told him he was going to have to.

David immediately put his hand to his temples. The man snorted and waved his hand. Blood began to gush from David's nose and he fell to the ground, gasping and spluttering. Kurt immediately caught him.

"Please, your father already tried," the man said, "If he failed, what chance do you have?"

David looked up, his eyes glowing with hatred. Clarice threw a crystal at the man, but he caught it with one of his hands. Before it teleported him he crushed it into powder. He flicked his hand out, casually sending Terry and Deadpool flying.

Remy swallowed and began charging his cards.

"You two," the man said.

He pointed at Max and Luna.

"Come quietly and lives will be spared," he said.

Max held his sister closer. Remy tossed his cards, aiming at the man's feet. The ground exploded, throwing clots of dirt into the air. Remy pushed Max and Luna backward and caught Kurt's eye. He knew that Kurt was worried about his brother, but they didn't have many options for getting the siblings out.

Kurt seemed to understand. He teleported away from his brother and grabbed Luna's hand. The next moment Kurt was hurtled through the air, landing somewhere near the man's feet. Luna was sent flying with him. Kurt pulled his arms around her, acting as a shield for when they fell.

Boom-Boom tossed a handful of light at the man, but a flying tent sent her spiraling to the ground. Remy could see that David was still trying to break into the man's mind, but the blood just kept pouring from him. It didn't look good.

Clarice and Calvin got to their feet. Clarice began teleporting herself rapidly around the man, no doubt trying to get to Kurt and Luna. The man hit her, sending her to the ground. She cried out and Remy could tell that the man had broken the rest of her ribs. Calvin rushed to her side, his skin still diamond. The man hit him and his diamond skin cracked under the impact.

"It's pathetic really," the man said, "The only ones displaying any kind of uniqueness are ones I already have."

Max threw out his hands. Several of the tent poles flew out, twisting themselves into bands. The man snapped them, but he looked at Max with interest.

"Your sister really means that much?" he asked.

In answer Max kept his hand out. The rest of the tent poles went wild, each rising into the air. One by one they flew at the man, slashing and tearing at him. Unlike the bullets and the crystals, they were making dents. David got shakily to his feet, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The man winced.

Some of the poles hit, making the man stagger. The poles dented against his skin.

"Enough," the man said.

He splayed his hand out and the poles were sent flying. David collapsed to the floor, struggling to get back up.

"I think you've earned your lives," the man said.

He turned and sighed as he approached Luna and Kurt. Remy took one of his card packs, charged it, and threw the whole thing at him. The air filled with explosions and magenta light, but Remy knew what he would see when it was done.

The man turned slowly. His skin was charred, which was a good sign, but he looked irritated.

"You think it wise to call me out in this manner?" he asked.

"It probably be da dumbest ting Remy ever done," Remy said.

He took out another pack of cards.

"Don't mean Remy ain't gonna try," he said.

The man charged. Remy threw another couple of his cards. He reached for more, but he only had two packs left. Normally having over one hundred little explosives would be more than enough. This time he had the feeling he'd end up wanting more.

The first punch broke two of his ribs. Remy coughed and rolled, fumbling for his cards. The man kicked him, and Remy could feel two more break. It felt like his entire diaphragm was turned in on him, attacking him.

A figure moved to his right. Remy watched in amazement and horror as Rogue reached out and grabbed the man's arm. He saw the man's veins move as the man gasped, but Rogue was the one who started screaming.

She stumbled away and fell to the floor, panting. The man turned to her, his eyes furious.

"You dare!" he snarled.

Remy tossed his pack of cards at him. The explosions allowed him to push Rogue out of the way.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Remy, he ain't...Remy I couldn't-" Rogue whispered.

"It's okay chere," he said.

He felt something lift him into the air. Remy stared into the man's eyes, and somehow he knew what Rogue was talking about. This man wasn't normal, even for a mutant. He was something differently entirely. He'd seen it in his adopted father. This was a monster.

The man's hand began to shift to his throat. Remy knew he was going to kill him, but he always kept an ace up his sleeve, whether literally or figuratively. It was time to see if he was as selfless as the people who had saved him all that time ago.

Rogue was behind him. He'd hoped, in time, that there could be something there. He'd known it would be difficult, but he'd never been one to take the easy way. She was different from anyone he'd ever met, and he'd wanted to explore that. If he was going to be selfless for someone though, he was glad it was her.

He touched the man's shoulder, charging him with as much energy as he could. The man's eyes widened.

"Boom," Remy laughed.

There was an explosion. Remy felt something else in him break as he tumbled to the floor. Blood was coming from his lips, and that wasn't good. He saw Kurt and Luna a few steps away. Luna was out and Kurt was struggling to get to his feet.

He looked up. The man was injured, but Remy could see him healing. He casually punched Kurt to the floor, grabbing him and Luna with one hand. With the other hand he grabbed Remy's arm.

"Impressive," he said.

Then the world dissolved into blue light.