This is Chapter 8 of my X-Men Story that takes place in the X-Men Animated Series Universe and my own few additions. Hope you enjoy. And do go back and check out the previous chapters first if you missed them.
PREVIOUSLY ON X-MEN: SEE "RELATIONSHIPS"
TITLE CARD: "SINISTER (PART 1)"
SCENE: "HAPPINESS"; X-MANSION DINNING ROOM
After accepting Cyclops's marriage proposal, Jean Grey and her new fiancée hear a commotion in the next room. They enter the main hall to see Storm and a crowd of their students surrounding Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Quantum, and Professor Xavier.
JEAN GREY
(To Storm)
What is going on?
STORM
I am not certain. The professor says it has something to do with Rogue's powers.
Scott and Jean become just as curious as the others. Now Beast begins to speak.
BEAST
Together with Quantum here, I have created a special chip to help with Rogue with her powers.
PROFESSOR X
That is very interesting Hank, but what does this chip do exactly?
QUANTUM
It controls the hypothalamus in Rogue's brain (which we discovered controls her absorption powers) to block the automatic absorption her body does. At least that is the theory.
BEAST
Precisely. We will now test that effect. Whenever you are both ready.
ROGUE
(To Gambit)
Here's goes nothing, shugah.
GAMBIT
Let's do it, Cheré.
Rogue removes her gloves and reaches out to touch Gambit's face. She then pulls back hesitantly. She pauses as if she is too afraid to try this experiment. She looks unsure. Gambit makes the decision for her. He reaches out and pulls her in close, kissing her passionately. Knowing Rogue's powers, the crowd collectively gasps. But after a few moments nothing happens. The chip works and Rogue did not absorb Gambit's energy or his powers. The crowd cheers loudly. They are all so happy for Rogue and Gambit to finally be able to have an even more real relationship.
CYCLOPS
(Amazed)
That's remarkable Hank… But did you and Quantum just strip Rogue of her powers with this device?
The crowd then realizes that this may not be as happy as they first thought, and they collectively gasp.
ROGUE
Beast and Quantum are way ahead of ya, Scott.
CYCLOPS
What do you mean, Rogue?
Quantum reaches out and touches Rogue's ungloved hand. He suddenly looks sickly as Rogue absorbs his powers and energy. He quickly then releases his hand to prevent further damage and grabs at his hand in pain.
BEAST
As you can see this chip will only affect Rogue's power when she touches Gambit. His unique energy frequency is all that it blocks.
ROGUE
So y'all don't go thinkin' that we can touch now. I don't want to hurt any of ya.
Rogue then turns her attention back to Gambit and they kiss again. As this goes on, Cyclops looks at Jean. She nods at him. Cyclops and Jean Grey then join the group in the middle.
CYCLOPS
Not to take away from Rogue and Gambit's moment but Jean and I have some big news too.
Scott motions towards Jean and the crowd turns to face her. Jean raises her hand and shows the very impressive engagement ring Cyclops gave to her.
JEAN GREY
(Excitedly)
We're getting married!
The stunned crowd stares for a moment but then again explodes with cheers. Wolverine now pushes through the crowd and walks with a purpose towards Cyclops. The crowd becomes deathly silent. He forcefully grabs Scott's hand and violently shakes it. He then pulls him close into him, so they are nose-to-nose.
WOLVERINE
You'd better be good to her, bub. Because if I ever find out ya mistreated her in any way, a hard handshake will be the least of ya problems.
Wolverine then walks past Scott and up the stairs to the dorms. The crowd then collapses to congratulate Jean, Scott, Gambit, and Rogue. Professor X, Beast, Quantum, and Emma Frost watch quietly from the other side of the room. Emma reaches out and holds Quantum's hand. He pulls her hand up and kisses it.
END SCENE
SCENE: "HAPPINESS OVERLOAD"; QUANTUM AND EMMA FROST'S DORM IN THE X-MANSION, THE NEXT MORNING.
After all the recent happiness in the X-Mansion, the night was filled with some "very special" nights for the X-Couples. We see Emma Frost and Quantum wake up after their "private night".
EMMA FROST
Well lover boy, do you think the others had as much fun last night as we did?
QUANTUM
Kitty and Peter haven't seen each other for three years, Rogue can touch Gambit without killing him, and Jean and Scott got engaged. I'd say so. Love is in the air.
EMMA FROST
Or is that just the smell of a lot of sex happening?
Quantum laughs at Emma's joke but is interrupted by the communicator, warning them that there is something going on in the Mission Room.
QUANTUM
(Frustrated and rolling his eyes)
No rest for the weary.
EMMA FROST
(Sighing)
Back to reality.
END SCENE
SCENE: "SINISTER MESSAGE"; MISSION ROOM IN THE X-MANSION SUB-BASEMENT, MOMENTS LATER.
WOLVERINE
What's with the alarm for Professor?
PROFESSOR X
I am sorry to bother you all on your day off but late last night we got a very disturbing message. Hank if you would please?
BEAST
Of course, Charles.
The Mission Room's computer flickers and a hologram of the devious Mr. Sinister comes up.
MR. SINISTER
Greetings X-Men. It has come to my attention that Ms. Grey and Mr. Summers have gotten engaged. I am hurt that I was not invited to the engagement party (Sinister laughs). But we did get you both an engagement present.
The camera pans out and shows Sinister and his Nasty Boys standing in front of Worthington Castle. They all laugh.
STORM
Worthington Castle! Archangel and Psylocke!
Storm's worries are well founded. The camera then pans to the former X-Men Archangel and his girlfriend Psylocke unconscious on the ground next to the Nasty Boys.
MR. SINISTER
So, Xavier, if you want to see your former students again: you will surrender Jean Grey and Scott Summers to me! But if you take too long, I may just have to "experiment" on Mr. Worthington here and (he grabs Psylocke's face with one hand lifting her close to the camera) this lovely woman he calls a girlfriend (he drops Psylocke, and her head sharply strikes the ground). They may not be as ideal as Miss Grey and Mr. Summers, but I can work with them!
The message ends with Sinister laughing into the camera.
ROGUE
Oh poor, Warren. First getting changed into one of Apocalypse's Horsemen and now caught by that ugly Sinister.
GAMBIT
Don't worry Cheré, we'll save 'em.
CYCLOPS
Gambit's right Professor. We must go save them and stop Sinister.
WOLVERINE
Now we're talkin'. Been needin' some action.
PROFESSOR X
Yes Scott. Deploy immediately. We can only hope that Mr. Sinister has not harmed Warren or Elizabeth.
The X-Men then quickly walk down the hall to the X-Jet and then quickly take off for a Sinister Showdown.
END SCENE
SCENE: "QUANTUM LOST"; WORTHINGTON CASTLE IN NORTHERN ENGLAND, AN HOUR LATER.
Cyclops lands the X-Jet half a mile from Worthington Castle so they can scout of their attack on Mr. Sinister and the Nasty Boys but find only Psylocke and Archangel (both still unconscious).
WOLVERINE
(Whispering)
I smell Sinister.
CYCLOPS
Where there is Sinister, there are the Nasty Boys.
STORM
Everyone be on your guard.
As soon as Storm finishes that sentence, Gorgeous George's tar-like body engulfs Colossus and Gambit.
ROGUE
Gambit!
SHADOWCAT
Peter! Give him back!
GORGEOUS GEORGE
No can-do love. Why don't you try and stop me? (Laughs)
Kitty angrily runs at him, but he opens a hole in his body and Kitty lands hard on her face, knocking her out cold. Even Gambit's kinetic cards and Colossus's strength can't get them free. Wolverine runs at George but is tackled by Hairbag and they begin to trade punches.
CYCLOPS
Jean, stay here and protect Archangel and Psylocke.
Jean nods and creates a force-field around herself and the two former X-Men. But before Cyclops could take off to help Wolverine, he is grabbed from behind by a root. Ramrod uses his wooden staff and his powers to trap him. Quantum quickly uses an energy blast to free Cyclops though. Beast then surprises Ramrod and knocks him out.
Meanwhile, Rogue encounters Slab and the two begin to trade super-strong punches. Rogue gets the better of him by catching one of his punches and flying up high over the waters surrounding Worthington Castle. She drops him down into the North Sea. She spots Mr. Sinister sneaking up on Cyclops.
ROGUE
WATCH OUT, CYCLOPS!
Cyclops, Emma Frost, and Quantum turn around just in time to stop Sinister but before any of them can act Ruckus's scream is heard. The other Nasty Boys and Sinister have earplugs to save them from Ruckus's scream. Wolverine had just taken out Hairball but he fell to the ground. Rogue falls out of the sky and lands hard on the ground. Cyclops and Beast too fall to their knees.
Jean's force-field protects her, but she stays with Psylocke and Archangel. Emma Frost quickly changes to her diamond form and makes her mostly immune to the scream, but the attack still makes her somewhat dizzy. Quantum is surprisingly unaffected though. Ruckus stops screaming in shock that his powers did not hurt Quantum.
Quantum removes earplugs from his ears.
QUANTUM
What was that? I couldn't hear you.
Before Ruckus can scream again and energy ball engulfs him and then shrinks to wrap his mouth closed. The lack of oxygen makes him feint. However, Quantum used a lot of energy and concentration to hold Ruckus's mouth closed and does not see Mr. Sinister beginning to blast him with his own energy blast. Emma (still recovering and back in her normal form) sees this. She runs towards him trying to use her astral powers to jump from her body. Her astral from comes out and takes the brunt of the blast. At the same time Nightcrawler arrives and tries to teleport Quantum from the blast. But the blast is too strong for Emma as her Astral Form is slammed back into her body and Nightcrawler's teleport smoke is seen but when it clears: Quantum is gone and apparently vaporized!
EMMA FROST
(Back in her body)
NOOOOO!
TO BE CONTINUED...
END EPISODE