CHAPTER NINE

Storm was leading a group down the corridor towards the X-Jet. Wolverine and Thunderbird were just behind her, followed by Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Moonstar, Cypher and Leech in their green New Mutant uniforms. "Is it okay if I admit to being nervous?"Cypher asked.

"You'd be a fool if you weren't,"Wolverine replied.

"It's just…we went up against this Onslaught before and it didn't go so well."

"We just have to make sure it goes better this time,"Cannonball decided.

"We know what we're doing,"Moonstar agreed.

"It doesn't pay to be over-confident,"suggested Thunderbird, who had been given a uniform for the mission. "Just be careful."

"You know what to do,"Storm told the youngsters. "You just have to make sure you do it."

Rogue, Iceman and Angel walked behind the group. "Are you okay?"Rogue asked Warren.

He shrugged. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"You just seem…odd."

He shook his head and quickened his pace. "It's nothing."

With Warren no longer in earshot, Rogue looked quizzically at Bobby, who shrugged. "We'll keep an eye on him,"he suggested.

Jubilee was at the rear of the party. A cough from behind drew her attention and she saw someone leaning against the wall, a roguish smile on his face. Gambit.

Jubilee looked back at the other X-Men. None of them had turned round. She looked back at Gambit. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checking in."

"You died."

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm still around somewhere." Gambit's expression became serious. "You can't let them do this, Jubilee. You can't let them stop Onslaught."

Jubilee hesitated and then ran after the others.

The X-Jet came into land on the runway of the air base, next to a helicopter from which the members of X-Factor, led by Beast and Havok, were emerging. The X-Men and New Mutants descended the ramp. "Glad you could make it,"Wolverine noted.

"Well, I couldn't let you mess up all on your own. You need help with that." Beast looked at the newcomer in the X-Men team. "Henry McCoy."

"Neal Shaara." After a moment's hesitation, he added,"Thunderbird."

"Felicitations. Well, it would appear there's a gentleman inside who's expecting us to visit him. Let's not disappoint."

Wolverine, Storm, Beast and Havok led the way towards the wreck of the base. Onslaught came striding out to meet them, flanked by groups of Sentinels. "I thought you might be sensible enough to stay away," he remarked.

"That telepathy's not working too good then,"Havok remarked.

"Join with me,"Onslaught offered. "Join the new worldwide conglomerate of mutants. Be willing members of my new order and you will all see the benefits."

There was a long pause. "Sorry, were you expecting an answer?"Wolverine asked at last.

Onslaught seemed to seethe with fury for a moment. Then he turned to the Sentinels. "Attack."

"Defend!"Storm retorted.

Cannonball flew at one of the Sentinels, smashing into its chest, while Moonstar and Wolfsbane dived at its legs, Wolfsbane changing into half-wolf mode as she did so and Moonstar employing a psychic blade. Polaris focused her magnetic powers on one, ripping it apart. "Rest in pieces,"she remarked. Havok gave her a pained look. "I can do better,"she promised.

Thunderbird fired a stream of super-heated plasma at one of the robots. "I owe you an awful lot of pain right now,"he told it as the Sentinel burned away.

Siryn had ended up next to Jubilee. "Nice to be working together again,"she remarked.

"Er, yeah, right,"Jubilee agreed, distracted.

Because she was seeing something none of the others were. None except Warren that is. From their point of view, standing in front of Onslaught were Gambit and Kitty. "You have to stop them,"Kitty insisted.

"You're on the wrong side here,"Gambit added.

Warren and Jubilee raced forward and positioned themselves in front of Onslaught. "You have to go back,"Warren announced.

"And if you don't, we'll stop you,"Jubilee added, hurling a stream of fireworks into the air to make a point.

"Is this a plan?"Havok asked.

"If it is, it's not one of ours,"Wolverine replied.

"It's Onslaught,"Storm realised. "He's got inside their heads. Siryn, Colossus, Leech."

Understanding the problem, Leech hurried forward and directed his powers at the two rogue X-Men. Angel, who had been hovering in mid-air, abruptly landed next to Jubilee as his wings disappeared. Colossus dashed forward, scooped them both up, and threw them into a clear area. "How's that for a fast bowl special?"he asked.

Siryn was waiting for her boyfriend to act. She stepped in front of where Jubilee and Angel sat sprawled and unleashed a sonic blast that caused them both to grab their ears in pain. "Move and you'll get that again,"she told them.

"Enough!"Onslaught roared. "You will all be absorbed! Starting now!" A white light burst out of his body. Cannonball flew straight into it and was drawn into Onslaught.

"He's going to try and take anyone who gets in range,"Cypher realised.

"Better not get in range then,"Storm noted.

"No, Rogue, don't!"Iceman suddenly shouted as Rogue flew towards Onslaught.

"It could be our only chance of finding Harmony,"Rogue replied. She flew into the light spewing out from all directions and was absorbed.

"See if my light can beat your light!"Havok suggested. He fired an energy beam straight into the heart of the light surrounding Onslaught. The white of Onslaught's energy seemed to travel along Havok's blast and draw him in as well.

"Okay,"Wolverine observed. "Let's not stop at half measures." With a growl, he leapt at Onslaught. Onslaught swung round, letting the light bathe all over the mutant, and then Wolverine disappeared as well.