What the Future Holds <BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT= "#FF0000" FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" LINK= "#0000FF" VLINK= "#0000FF"> <B>General Disclaimer:</B> Generally, the characters within belong to Marvel, with the slight exception of Sinister's prisoners, who, despite whatever Sinister tells you, belong to me. If you want to borrow them, all you gotta do is ask. <P> <B>Thanx:</B> to Soar, for wasting time editing my work, when you could be studding. As well, to those who archive my stuff. Mooke (Or Apok, or Remy, whatever you go by now- a- days.) Christine, Raven and of course Darqstar. And finally, to anyone who actually waists time reading the disclaimers, etc. when they could be reading the story. I know that personally I don't. <P> <I><B>Very Special dedication:</B> To Mrs. Peggy Warford. You were the woman who brought to life a special child that has become my friend. I never knew you in life, but I feel that I have come to know you in death. I have become fond of the strong woman I have been told about. You lived your life for others, to bring a little sunshine into their world, when all the while, they were trying to do the same for you. The <U>faith</U> in your heart over came the fear in the back of your mind. It was because of this faith, I believe, that those you were close to have been able to go on. Your heavenly spirit, in the end, was stronger than your earthly body, and it's blaze burnt that body out. When the flames were gone from our world, so was your spirit, but you can rest your soul knowing that though the flames of the spirit have left us, the sunlight you shone during your time on this Earth will light the lives of those who knew you, always.</I> <P> <I>I would also like to send my sister some love. She had her first ultrasound today, and found that the child growing inside her, was growing without a working heart. I hope some day you can once again find that sort of happiness.</I> <P> Now that all that's out of the way, On with the story! Rewrite 10/28/01 <H2>What the Future Holds</H2> <I>Crimson</I><P> Part 10 <P> The silence was deafening in the space between the portals. As he fell, Angel had the sensation of flying. As the gravity crushed his body inward he felt as if he was being torn apart. Left was up, right was down. By all logic this sort of world should not have been able to exist, and yet he could feel it all around. He was fairly certain Sinister had gone through the opening with him, but his senses screamed of a lonely oblivion. One in which time, space and matter were equally jests of some past life that he couldn't quite remember, nor could he forget. <P> And then, as quickly as it had begun, it ended. Warren looked up to see Marrow barely conscious on the other side of the room. It appeared to him that she had been trying to reach a door that was located a few feet away from her. <P> His mind reeled at the thought of what could have disorientated her so much, that she would have given up her goal. She looked at him with a question in her eyes, then turned her gaze upwards to something behind him. That was when Angel remembered Sinister. <P> "...shit..." He muttered as he felt someone, probably Sinister, pick him up and carry him over to the now unconscious Marrow. The movement made his head spin, and he figured out why she was so weak. The portal had taken a lot out of him, and he prayed to any God that would listen, that his sickness wouldn't last. <P> "It appears your fellow X-Man has left you alone for the moment," Sinister gloated as he set Warren down next to Sarah. "Not to worry. You will be having company soon enough." <P> A sudden noise from the direction of the portal caught both of their attention, and the two looked in it's direction. They were rewarded with the sight of Gambit who had fallen through the portal on to the metallic floor. He rolled and came to his feet showing only the slightest signs of being affected by the portal. <P> Sinister stood strongly with a hard look in his eyes. Gambit for the most part looked completely defiant, fists balled, and eyes glaring, showing no signs of backing down from the man who could destroy him in an instant. <P> Remy was the first to break the spell. "Let dem go Essex," he hissed. A deeply angered scowl was on his face, as the glowing disk vanished behind him. The effect of the sight made his words seem to have even more strength, as the eery glow of the portal disappeared, only to be replaced by an even eerier glow in his eyes. <P> "Ah. You have misunderstood me Gambit. I did not say I would spare them if you came. You assume too much." <P> Gambit showed no signs of reacting to these words, but Angel could almost feel the anger emanating from him. He grated his words in perfectly articulated english as if to make sure Sinister would understand, "If you hurt them I will kill you." <P> "No. You will do nothing but surrender. Or else, the only people to die here today, will be them." In order to illustrate his point, he took aim at the two fallen X-Men with his illuminated left hand. He didn't move his attention from Gambit for an instant, didn't even risk a glance at them, but Angel knew that if he decided to fire, he would not miss. <P> For a moment it appeared that Gambit would argue, would try to fight the inevitable just one more time. That he would attempt to cheat fate yet again. To fight an end he knew was coming just once more. But he was so tired of fighting. The past few weeks had taken their told on him. The battles, the sacrifices, the injuries and hardships, the losses and always, always the fighting. He was just so tired. <P> Angel watched in terror as Gambit lowered his arms and let the tension drop from his body. For a moment their eyes met and locked, the resigned look in Gambit's made tears form in Warrens. Then Gambit's gaze turned away from Angel's and met Sinister's. <P> Essex dropped his arm to his side. "Excellent," he whispered evilly to himself. <P> It was clearly a victory for him, and Gambit knew that that meant it was a loss for him. He closed his eyes, only slightly aware of what would follow. Sinister once again took aim at Gambit, but this time Angel could not find the strength to call out a warning; Could not find it within himself to defend the man who was giving everything he had ever fought for, to save him. <P> Tears were now streaming down his face, as he did everything he could to fight off his own oblivion. Part of him wanted the peaceful slumber to come, but the other wanted to be there for this man; Wanted to witness his sacrifice. Horror filled him as he watched Sinister fire. <P> The blast struck Gambit in the chest and abdomen, and sent him backwards into the wall with a vengeance, only for him to come to rest, finally, on the cold, hard floor. As he drifted off, Angel took comfort in knowing that Gambit had probably been unconscious before he had hit the wall. <P> <hr> <P> Angel awoke to the sound of singing. It was a beautiful song, sung by someone with a beautiful voice. If he didn't miss his guess, it was a religious song. Even though it wasn't in English, it had that certain lilt that made it made it belong more in the vast expanse of a church hall. <P> He was becoming lost in the melody, when someone cut her off. "Don't you know anything besides that Catholic crap?" A male voice asked. <P> "It is NOT 'crap'! It's beautiful music about hope and faith and love and if you don' like it, you can blow it out yer arse!" Another feminine voice said sharply. <P> "Hope and faith and love," The male spat. "Things like that have no place in a Hell like this!" <P> Angel decided to put in his own opinion. He spoke without opening his eyes. "I like the music," He whispered with only a little difficulty. <P> "Angel?" A raspy voice whispered back from somewhere to his right. <P> Tentatively he opened one eye and turned his head slowly in the direction of the voice. "Marrow." <P> "Welcome Back." <P> "Are you alright?" <P> "How do you feel?" <P> Angel opened both his eyes to find out who was speaking to him. He found himself in what appeared to be a rather large test tube in a dark room. It was about a metre in diameter and about two metres high. His wings felt awkward in the small space, but he supposed it could be worse. The room was about three or four metres wide, and lined on both sides by similar tubes. To his right was Marrow. <P> To the right of her was a boy of about 17 or 18, leaning casually against the side of the tube. He was wearing forest green pants and a midnight blue shirt. His boots were looked like they had been requisitioned from an army reject shop, but they were a faded yellow and green. The boy's black hair and blue and brown eyes reminded him of the Phantom of the Opera, except that his face was far from grotesque. In fact the only flaw he could see in the boy that couldn't be fixed by a hot meal, shave and shower were the green circles under his eyes. <P> Across from him was another boy of about the same age, maybe older. He was crouched down with his elbows on his knees, hands folded under his chin. His hair was long and red, and his face showed that he had been there for a considerable time. The circles under his eyes were black, and it appeared he hadn't shaved in months. His sleeveless soft brown shirt and black pants seemed about two sizes too big for his scrawny body. His soft brown eyes matched his slightly baggy shirt perfectly. <P> To his right was a young girl of about 18 or 19 who had the same regal beauty of Storm, despite her youth. She stood with one hand on her hip, the other hanging at her side, holding something tight, and her chin poised to show strength. Her mahogany hair was about three or four feet long, tied back by two braids that came back from behind her ears. Her bangs fell in front of a set of eyes that had what appeared to be liquid silver swirling around the dark green irises. From the edge of her left eye brow a dark scar proceeded back behind her ear and disappeared behind her hair. Her clothes were normal American blue jeans and a dark green T-shirt with red, black and white suede Adidas sneakers. Though she was just as caged as the rest of them she held a certain air about her that said she was not trapped. <P> Next was a female teenager who seemed the girl's exact opposite. She sat with her legs tucked up arms folded on them and head hiding in them. She seemed to be quite frightened of the predicament she found herself in, as she looked at him with eyes too old for her age. Her hair too was tied back in a pony tail, but it was rather messy, with strands hanging out all over as if she couldn't decide whether she wanted it up or down. Even the colour of her hair seemed to be indecisive. It had extremely dark red strands as well as chestnut brown and black, but the addition of blond and brown made it appear to be more light than dark. Her eyes were sapphire blue, as was her shirt. Her jeans were faded and baggy and she wore a pair of black boots with thick rubber souls. <P> Crouched to her right was a tiny girl, probably about 8 or 9 years of age. She sat with her legs pulled up to her stomach and her arms wrapped around them, chin resting on her knees, as she stared at him in awe. Her eyes were large, green and innocent. She was dressed in a red and white pants outfit that had a tank top for a shirt. It looked like something straight out of the 60's, but that sort of thing was normal for today's style. She had on a pair of white Velcro sneakers that had a little Spiderman heads on the sides. <P> On the right of this child was a dangerous looking girl staring at him, hands on hips as if to try and intimidate. She appeared to be 15 or 16 going on 40. Her lavender eyes and lips set off her long silver hair perfectly. Her tight lavender and black outfit showed that despite her not so great height of 5'3" she would be able to take on any attackers. The only thing she needed to complete her look was a set of swords to go in her black gloved hands. <P> Across from her the cannister was empty. But to the right of that, and left of Angel, was the ninth and final captive. He was a boy around 16 or 17, showing the least amount of wear. His hair was long and blond. He had on dressy black pants, and a white sleeveless shirt. Around his neck on a black cord was a quarter-sized medallion with something engraved on it. <P> As Angel caught his light blue eyes, the boy decided to speak. "Hi," He said in a low voice with a smile on his face. "Name's Blaze," He gestured with his head to the dangerous girl, "That's Kristine." <P> She nodded to him, crossing her arms. "Hello," She articulated sharply. <P> Blaze, continued down the line. "Next is Casey, my little sister." <P> The little girl smiled brightly at him, but didn't say anything. <P> "Then the diva we call Pix," She smiled distantly, but it did not reach her frightened eyes, and she turned away quickly, as if making the amount of eye contact that she did had burned her eyes. Blaze continued with a playful smile, "My lovely, Hope Darcenaux," She opened her mouth to say something, but he wasn't finished. "We all call her Darcey. Mostly 'cause it pisses the Hell out of her." <P> She shot him a slightly annoyed look, that Warren was sure he had seen before, as Blaze quickly continued. "The Veteran, Donald," then pointing to the end he said "Brian, and I believe you already know the quick tempered woman." <P> Angel nodded to each as he said their names. Then he looked pointedly at the empty canaster. "Who's missing?" He asked, figuring that it was there for Gambit. <P> "Actually three of us were taken out earlier this morning. A guy we call Bull, Celeste, and Miranda. You guys are probably next on his experimental hit list," Blaze replied in sad humour. <P> Angel stood up as best he could and leaned against the back of the tube. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked at the bottom of the glass, and spoke quietly to himself, "Figure he'll be too busy with Gambit." <P> "What?!?" Marrow, Pix and Hope exclaimed in unison. <P> Surprised by the question coming in stereo, Angel's head bounced up. He had only meant to have to break the news to Marrow and didn't really think that the others would have any difference either way. <P> "Did... Did you say Gambit?" Donald stuttered, sadness written all over his face. <P> "A- As in Remy?" Pix asked, the fear in her eyes masked by sadness, as both she and Hope came forward behind the glass to hear what he had to say. <P> "...Yes. How do you know him?" <P> Pix fell back hard, but didn't look as if she felt it much. Her eyes fixed forward and again she started to sing. Hope turned on her knees and faced Pix. She held a deep concern in her manner as she raised a hand to the glass then turned and sat down herself, putting her head in her hands. <P> "We all know him. He was one of us for a while, before Fury sprung him. He was our best chance of getting out," Donald said almost under his breath. <P> "What do you mean one of you?" Angel asked out of curiosity. <P> "We're all connected. It's like telepathy, only not. I think it has something to do with Casey's powers," Replied Donald, half-heartedly. <P> "Casey's powers?" Angel baited. <P> Blaze sighed. "We can all see things. Call it a spatial awareness, or empathy, or whatever you want, but we see things. Apart from Remy, it's strongest in Casey, to the point that she can actually see through the eyes of another person. A long time ago, when Nick came for Remy, he reached out to us to try to find us, to try to help us. Casey did the same to him as she saw something through his eyes that frightened her. When he touched Casey's mind, their powers interwove and an odd sort of awareness hit us all." <P> "It's like we're all connected," Brian continued. <P> "We know what each other is thinking," added Kristine. <P> "We know what each other is feeling," Donald concurred. <P> "And we know what each other is seeing," Brian finished. <P> "But it's more then that. When none of us are trying to block it, and when none of our powers are being blocked, we don't just know what they're thinking or seeing. We don't just know, but we actually see, we hear, we feel, and at the strongest of times, we even think exactly what the others are doing." <P> Donald's words came quietly, "We lost Remy for so long, that most of us started to believe that he was..." <P> "It's strongest between some of us more then others," Brian stated in order to stop the subject from going in that direction. "Me and Kristine, Pix and Hope, Casey and Blaze, Bull and Celeste, and Miranda and Donald. It's like we were paired of for some sort of greater purpose." <P> "Don't get going on that 'Greater Purpose' crap again," Kristine stated with an exasperated expression on her face. "The only thing Sinister has planned for us is to be his experiments until we snap. Nothing more, nothing less." <P> "Explain Remy then," Marrow muttered under her breath, so subtly that Angel wasn't sure whether or not he had heard her right. <P> Angel looked at her, hoping that she would explain, but she just stared back without opening her mouth. It was at that point that something else that had been bothering him since Remy had returned. "What Is it between you two?" He blurted out from apparently nowhere. <P> Marrow looked away from him, to the bottom of the cylinder as all eyes fell upon her and the singing stopped. "What do you mean?" She asked innocently, as if she really didn't know what he was talking about. <P> "You know exactly what I mean. Ever since you showed up with Bobby you've been little miss tough ass bitch. You're bitter, I understand that, but the X-Men did every thing in their power to help you, and STILL you hate us! Why? Why do you hate us and love him, when it's not OUR fault that they're dead, IT'S <B>HIS</B>!!!" By this point Angel was yelling, but he didn't care. Everything that had been built up inside of him since Gambit's trial was coming out now and he wanted answers. <P> "That man did everything in his power to destroy you and to destroy the X-Men. WE did everything in our power to stop him. The traitor--" <P> "Shut your mouth," Came quietly from across the way. "Y' have no CLUE what de Hell you're talkin' 'bout. So I'm tellin' you winged man <B>Shut. YOUR. Mouth.</B> Or I'll make it so dat you never fly 'gain." <P> "I know what you tried to do for me Angel. But you were too late. I had a Guardian Angel that day, and it wasn't you. You tried to come out of your mansion to help the lesser people from an unbeatable force. You people always did enjoy fighting for the underdogs," Marrow was barely speaking now as tears streamed down her face. <P> "Remy got me out. He was hurt, but he ran on. He kept saying he was so sorry, as he ran and stumbled down the tunnel. He brought me to a tunnel where Calisto was helping some Morlocks run from the Marauders. He was in so much pain that he could barely stand. He passed me to Calisto, still chanting how sorry he was, and turned to go back for more. But there was an explosion. We were all thrown to the ground. I fell under some debris and was too scared to cry out to him." Her eyes were fixed, and all those in the room appeared, to Angel, to be reliving what she was describing with her. <P> "I could see him trying to pick himself up, to help us... he was spitting up so much blood... He had his back to them... One of them shoved a... a knife through his back... They told him that Essex was going to kill his daughter... I was too scared to cry as he fell... I was too scared to cry as I watched the Marauders kill my family, and my friends... Too scared as I saw Calisto fall over Remy, to try to protect him from the flames all around him... I was even too scared of the one-eyed man that shot and killed the Marauder that had killed my Angel. <P> "I watched as he walked past the fallen and the wounded, ignoring the ones crying out for his help. He walked right up to him and Calisto. He helped Calisto sit up noticing her burns, but quickly turned his attention to the semi conscious man. 'Oh God... I'm sorry... just hang in there,' he had said putting a hand to his shoulder. <P> "'My... my...' Remy had gasped. <P> "'I know...' he replied. Then Remy's eyes went so sad, then pained and remorseful and then suddenly unreadable, almost cold. I wanted to go to him so I started climbing out of my hiding place. He was the only person who noticed me coming. 'Rest Remy. It's all right now. I'm getting you out, now you just gotta hold on a little longer. You have to keep on fighting.' <P> Remy let out a little grunt of pain and his head fell into the other man's lap. 'A'wa's fightin'...' Then he looked to me, 'Wa's y' name girl?' he asked me, the sadness in his eyes again. I told him my name was Sarah, as I knelt down beside them. ''m so s'ry S'rah. So... so...' Then he passed out again. <P> "I looked up at the other man and asked him why he was sorry. He told me something I'll never forget. He said that Remy thought what happened was his fault, and that he would never be allowed to know the truth. Then he looked down at his friend and back at me. He told me that he wanted me to promise something. Fury told me everything that had happened to him, his entire life and that it was never his fault. I didn't understand all of what he said then, but I still understood the point. Remy was not to blame. Then he said the oddest thing I had ever heard. He said that Remy needed to be forgiven so that he could go to Heaven. And that only I could give him the forgiveness he needed. <P> "I thought Remy was dead at that point. That the blade had killed him, after Creed's claws had failed. He needed to forgive himself, but he didn't even know that he had done nothing wrong, apart from trying to protect his daughter. Every time he liked someone, they were taken away from him, every time he was happy, it was taken away from him. His story was so sad, and none of it was his fault. I promised never to hold anything against this man as long as I lived, and I promised to always keep what he had told me a secret. <P> "I still have never told the story he had told me to anyone else. And to this day, Remy LeBeau is the only person I've ever forgiven. Then I found out he was alive, only to find out that the X-Woman he loved had left him to die. I was so angry... Just so So... angry... It was NEVER his fault, and he doesn't even know it..." Her voice drifted off into quiet sobs. <P> "I... I understand," Angel stuttered, trying to hide a tear which was falling down his blue face. <P> A sudden explosion rocked the building, and as the lights went out, Psylocke appeared in the middle of the room with a fully iced man. "Hello my luv'." <P> "Da, da- da, da- da, da- da, da- daaaaaa! CALVAR-- Ack!" Bobby's not-so-witty banter was cut short by a bright flash of light that sent Psylocke flying into him, and knocked them both out. <P> "Tsk, tsk, tsk," Sinister lectured as he walked into the room, "You should never make an attack with your calvary, unless it's backed up by the artillery. Didn't you learn anything from Napoleon?" <P> "YOU HEARTLESS SON OF A BITCH! Why can't you just LEAVE US ALONE?!?" Pix yelled, dropping the frightened child appearance, and doing her best to use her powers through the dampeners in the cylinder. <P> "If I cannot have you, then no one can." Sinister told her as he walked towards the controls on the opposite side of the room. <P> "Oh my God! What are you doing?" Kristine asked as he started pushing buttons on the panel. <P> "You have all out lived your usefulness to me. I have my prize, and I cannot take all of you, and him as well. You will keep the remaining X-Men busy while I escape with LeBeau." <P> "NOOOOOO!!!" A few of the captives yelled in unison. It was Pix's voice, however, that was heard over all. <P> As the others looked on, a bright light encompassed Sinister, and seemingly picked him up off the ground, and threw him against the panel. The impact wasn't enough to seriously injure him, but the controls were toast. An electrical fire started to break out. <P> As Sinister picked himself up, he surveyed the damage. "Fine. You've made this mess. You deal with it." He hissed making for an exit. <P> The controls were going up, and as far as any of them knew, no one had ever been able to break through the glass, with or with out powers. Then different lights started going on above the cannisters. The one above Kristine read release, as did Casey's. Pix's, Hope's and Brian's said extraction, and Donald's had both extraction and dampeners off. The two X-Men's read dampeners off and Blaze's said enhancement. <P> Next to him, Angel watched helplessly as Blaze burst in flames, screaming in agony as they burned his skin. Casey jumped quickly from her cage as the door opened, and ran to her brother. As soon as her foot hit the floor she opened her mouth in a silent scream. Her big brother was dying, and she not only knew it, but she could feel it. <P> Kristine went to the two unconscious X-Men, and tried to revive them. If they were going to get out of here they would need the pro's. <P> The four cylinders which had read extraction were now blazing with a bright blue light. It crossed Angel's mind that in order to extract his experiments, without them fighting back, he would release a shock into their cage, and knock them out. This light was blazing in brilliance though, which meant that it wasn't just some light shock. <P> Inside these cylinders, Pix, Brian and Donald were all yelling to Hope to do something. Hope, however was just standing there, staring wide- eyed at Blaze, and at Casey who was screaming silently and pounding her fists on her brother's glass. It looked as if she hadn't even really noticed the electrical current running through her body. <P> She watched his flesh melt away, as he stopped screaming and looked to her. She had the distinct feeling that he hadn't stopped screaming based on the fact that the pain had gone away. She saw the complete and utter love he had for her written in his soft blue eyes. Then his eyes moved to her right. She followed his gaze, even as the flames charred his bones, and gasped at what she saw. <P> Drawing all her strength, she sucked all of the electrical current from their tubes into her own. It was a tremendous effort without her powers, but she was determined to not let anymore of her friends die this night. <P> Closing her eyes tight and holding her broken locket to her heart, she turned off the outside world. The electricity filled her, and played around her. As it did, she became part of it, and it part of her. Out of the corner of her mind something registered that the man she loved had died, and as he did part of her died with him. She fell to her knees and let out a sob, but continued to hold on. <P> "Briannnn... get... them... out..." She whispered in a desperate attempt to save the rest of her 'team'. <P> "I can't! I don't have my powers!" <P> She opened her eye lids and snapped her head up at Brian, drilling a hole into him with her eyes. As she spoke, her voice sounded like static personified, <TT>GET... THEM...OUT!!!"</TT> <P> "I-- I'll try." <P> <TT>Don'try... DO!"</TT> <P> "...I... Alright..." <P> Marrow drew a bone dagger from her back and started to pound on the glass, as beside her the boy they had know as Brian, disappeared, only to reappear outside in the corridor. <P> "I did it!" He said excitedly, looking at Kristine and she smiled back, as she helped Bobby to sit up. He looked to Hope, expecting her to give him her gratitude. Hope, however, was too busy trying to keep the electricity in check. <P> It was doubling in intensity with each passing second. Frightened, Brian hurried in pulling out Pix and Donald, so that she would be able to stop pulling that current into her body. The rest of the current was still running through her, and he hoped that she would be able to handle it. <P> Making haste, Brian quickly pulled the others out of their cells and knelt down next to Kristine and they embraced tightly. Pix bent down and picked up Casey, who was quickly descending into shock. Bobby and Angel tried to bring Pyslocke around and Donald moved to the fire, in a desperate attempt to try to open Hope's cell. <P> Angel saw Donald move to the controls and asked him what he was doing. <P> Donald replied quickly, without turning his attention from the controls. "Brian can't get her out when she's packing that much energy, and she can't let go of the energy unless she has something to put it into. I have to reverse the controls, and get her out before the energy destroys her and then explodes outward to destroy all of us." <P> Bobby looked up at Donald then to Hope, "Knew there was a simple explanation." <P> At that moment Hope opened her eyes and looked at him. <TT><I>Glass..."</I></TT> <P> Bobby looked down at himself and noticed his clear glass- like appearance. "Uh... No, it's not glass, it's ice." <P> Slowly, she started to shake her head. Looking at her Bobby felt intimidated. This girl was being pumped full of pure electricity and fighting mutant power dampeners and she was still one her feet. Her eyes were filled with so much electrical blue light that it was seeping out the edges. She looked like some sort of omnipotent Goddess trying to protect her people. <TT><I>Cold glass."</I></TT> <P> Donald came back to join the others, looking at Hope with a deep feeling of remorse. "I can't get it open, and I can't turn off the electricity. Nothing will respond." <P> <TT><I>Cold glass."</I></TT> Hope repeated, as she nodded to Donald, in an attempt to thank him for the effort. <P> "Yeah... Okay," Bobby said in a confused tone, assuming that the electricity was driving her nuts, "I can see how ice is kinda like cold glass. <P> <TT><I>Nooo,"</I></TT> she said in despair. <P> "Cool the glass!" Betsy exclaimed, sitting up slowly. "If you cool the glass enough, she can get out herself!" <P> <TT><I>yess."</I></TT> <P> "Okay. It's worth a shot." With that, Bobby raised his hands and placed them tentatively to the outside of the glass. To his surprise, the glass wasn't even warm, as he'd thought it would be. Calling deep inside and allowing the cold he found within to surface through his hands, Bobby froze the water molecules in the air around and in the glass. He then stepped back to admire his work. <P> Seconds passed, and nothing happened. Seconds turned to minutes, and still nothing happened. Bobby was starting to get worried about the fact that he had frozen over the only vent in the capsule, when he heard something to his right. <P> "Leave now X-Men, and Sinister will spare your lives." <P> Bobby turned to see a man with shoulder length black hair staring at him with cold black eyes. At his feet lay Brian, curled up in a tight ball. He still looked conscious, but it was as if he had drawn inside himself, and had stopped responding to the outside world. <P> Next to him he heard a shrill scream, as Kristine lunged for their attacker's throat. In one fluid movement, he reached out with one hand and caught her around the neck. In the same motion, he smashed her against the wall. <P> Without breaking his eye contact with Bobby, he spoke to Kristine, although he was addressing them all. "Your lover is still alive child. You shall not be so lucky, unless the X-Men take Mr.Sinister's offer. He has no quarrel with them this day, and their death serves no purpose at this moment. Leave this place, and leave in one piece. Stay, and meet death head on." <P> Betsy started to stand and argue, but quickly fell back. At that moment the other the X-Men took up their places beside and in front of her. Passing Casey to Elizabeth, Pix steeped forward, coming up between Iceman, who was in the lead, and Angel who was on his left, directly beside his fallen girlfriend. <P> "Midnight Massacre. Sinister finally let y' off 'is leash?" <P> Taking her lead, Donald came up on the other side between Bobby and Marrow. "There's only one of you, and five of us. What makes you think you can take us," he taunted with a sly grin. <P> "Six..." Kristine grunted. <P> At this point, her assailant finally turned in her direction. "Little woman. Do you really think you can defeat me?" He pulled her up to his dark eyes and in the line of fire between himself and the others. As he did, his jade eyes swirled in anger. <P> All X-Men looking on figured by their brief knowledge of this woman that she would fight back with whatever powers she possessed. A sudden scream from Pix, however told them otherwise. <P> Brian stirred from out of his spell just in time to hear Pix scream. "Pixie?" He then saw a black clad man standing over him, holding his beloved by the neck. "KAT!!!" <P> <I>"Brian...?"</I> she questioned weakly. <P> "PA-THetic," 'Massacre spat, dropping her to the ground in a limp heap. <P> Brian rolled as best he could and looked into the eyes of the woman he had come to love. "Katty? Katty can y' hear me?" Tears were already running down his face, but as soon as he saw the empty blackness that had once been such loving eyes, the only thing in his mind was revenge. <P> With a roar, he lunged at 'Massacre in Kristine's name, much the same way she had done for him. Not wanting to loose any more of her friends, Pix reached out with the mutant power of levitation that she had been gifted with at birth. <P> Grabbing hold of Brian, she lifted him out of 'Massacre's reach, and tossed him through a door that was on the other end of the room. Choking back a tear at all the murder that had occurred, she looked at Donald and attempted to smile. <P> "Forget that you had your full powers back girl?" <P> "How do y' know I didn' mean t' do dat?" She retorted in false bravado. "I know you've felt like throwin him through a wall before." <P> "Didn't say it was wrong necessarily," he remarked, as they returned their attention to 'Massacre, who was waiting for them to make the next move. <P> "Hey!" Brian exclaimed reappearing behind them. <P> "Donald, Brian, take those two an' get outta here," Clearing her throat, and dropping her accent, Pix then addressed the X-Men. "Angel, Marrow, please, go find Remy and the others. Essex'll have 'em in the East wing." <P> "No way Pix. We're a team, I ain't leavin' you an'..." Donald looked at the ice encasement of their would-be leader. "I ain't leavin' you alone against him." <P> "She won't be alone," Bobby stated simply. <P> Donald stared at him then at her. <P> "You're the only one who knows the way out. Please, Donald, I need you to get them out." <P> With a sigh he nodded and turned to Brian. <P> "You're just going to let her take all the glory?" <P> "Brian, she's right. I'm the only one who knows the way. We gotta go." <P> "No YOU gotta go. I'm not--" <P> "Clear thoughts and cool head remember Ghost. You're too emotionally--" Pix started. <P> "And you AREN'T?" <P> "Phantom, you get your invisible but out of this complex, our I'll float you through the roof." <P> "You and what army? I'm not letting you take my revenge away!" <P> Midnight Massacre smiled satanically at their dispute. "Don't worry child. I shall dispose of these two in a matter of moments and then come for you and the others." <P> "Brian, come on!" Donald prompted, picking up Psylocke, being careful not to irritate the burns he found on her legs. "Get Casey, and let's go!" he yelled, running out the door. <P> Picking up Casey, Brian looked at what was left of Blaze's body. The chain of command was supposed to go Blaze, Hope, Kristine, Bull, Miranda, Pix, Donald, him, StarDust and Casey. Pix was 'low man down' but still higher then him. She had been born into a war, where as his fighting only began with Sinister. He knew the woman he had come to call 'Faith' would never let him down. That was when he decided to trust her. "See ya' in the real world, Faith." He looked to 'Massacre and smiled, "Pixie's gonna kick your sorry ass!" With that he took off out the door. <P> "Bobby?" Angel asked as Sarah started for the door herself. <P> "We'll be right behind you. Go get Gambit, before it's too late." <P> "Alright. Be careful. There's been enough death and I don't want to loose anymore friends tonight." <P> "Just the three of us," Pix said, turning to face Bobby, as Angel ran out the door. <P> "Four," A female voice replied from behind them. "Or have you forgotten already, that where the Midnight Massacre destroys his enemies, the Syphon stalks her prey?" <P> Bobby turned in surprise at the voice, but Pix was caught in a stare down with 'Massacre. "I hadn't forgotten. I was just hoping that Creed finally kept his word and ran you through." <P> "If you think that that little kitty cat could take me, you weren't paying attention that last time we sparred." <P> "I overestimated you. I thought y' t' be one of us. I thought y' were honourable and dat you were fighting by force only. I was wrong. I's a mistake dat I won't make twice." <P> "Too bad Velocity couldn't say the same thing." <P> At this, Pix visibly shuttered, but quickly regained her composure. "You take the big mouthed twit. The mass murderer is mine." <P> <I>Smart kid. Don't take the one you want revenge on. Revenge makes you sloppy. You start making mistakes.</I> "Alright." <P> "Watch her hands. She gets dem on ya an' it's lights out. They don' call 'er Syphon f' nothin'." <P> Bobby smiled as a plan came to mind, "Right." <P> With his acknowledgement to her warning, both she and Midnight Massacre jumped into motion. The two became a huge blur of moves, offensive and defensive, until you could hardly tell which was attacking the other. <P> Bobby, taking his cue from Pix, stood in a defensive pose. His powers worked best at a distance, and from what he had learned of Pix, hers worked up close and personal. As long as he could keep her beyond arms' length, he would be able to dominate this fight. <P> Syphon was slowly circling him, just as a predator stalks it's prey. Then, out of nowhere, she stopped, stood up straight and balled her hands into tight fists. She was between him and the other two now, and Bobby could see them fighting behind her. <P> Bobby was unsure of what to do now. He figured that she had stopped circling there for a reason, and he didn't want to find out what that reason was. If he fired now, there was a very large chance that he would take out Pix as well, but if he didn't fire, Syphon would be able to get the upper hand, literally. <P> Just then, Pix landed a hard kick to 'Massacre's stomach and he fell backwards, hitting the back of Syphon's calves. <P> Pushing a strand of hair out of her eyes, Pix looked down on him. "Y' 'ave no honour. Y' WORSE den a 'ssassin. Y' kill people in numbers, while y' hide in de dark. Y' can' e'en take me in a fair fight. Y' worthless, an' I'm surprised Sinister e'en deals with y'. E'en HE has a little honour." <P> "So you think that I'm just some trash with no honour, bitch?" With that a black light flashed out of his hands and into her body. She screamed, and fell back onto the ground. "Guess you're right. Tell me, why is it that your accent gets fifty times stronger when you're fighting? Can't concentrate on more then one thing at a time?" He asked as he started walking in her direction to finish the job he had started. <P> "Leave her alone," Bobby grated. <P> Syphon smiled, but the rigid tension didn't drain from her form. 'Massacre stopped in his progression, and turned to him. "Ice Man, isn't it?" <P> Bobby nodded, happy that he was no longer headed to Pix. <P> "Leave this place. Sinister has no desire to harm any of the X-Men." <P> "What about Jean and Cyclops?" <P> "The past. Over and done with. This is the present. This is what will lead to the future." <P> "What about Gambit?" <P> "If it weren't for Sinister, Gambit wouldn't even BE an X-Man." <P> "What do you mean?" <P> "You wish for an example? Sinister had Juillian attack Gambit the night of his wedding. It didn't suit his purpose that Gambit become 'Tied down'. What good is a Marauder with a family life? HE set Gambit up with Spat, HE set Gambit up with Fury, HE set Gambit up with the Morlocks, and HE set Gambit up with Storm." <P> <I>'Fury?' As in Nick Fury?</I> "Why? Why make Gambit an X-Man, only to take it away?" <P> "Experience. The key to battle. Gambit was always Sinister's prodigy. He has been molding him into his perfect soldier ever since he was born. The knowledge gained from his time with the X-Men could be very valuable for when he returned to work for Sinister. <P> <I>What makes him so sure he'd return?</I> "What makes you so sure he'd return?" <P> "He always has." <P> Bobby smiled. <I>Gotcha</I> "The past. Over and done with. This is the present. This is what will lead to the future." <P> "Touche. But you are ignoring the question at hand." <P> "Why are two murderers like you so willing to let me go? Why is Sinister so willing to let the X-Men go without a fight." <P> Syphon was getting irritated. Witty repartee, and interesting conversation had never been her forte, and frankly, she was bored with these two. "Let's just kill them and be done with it!" <P> <I>Oh no, let's not do that.</I> Bobby thought. <P> "NO! That wasn't part of the deal." 'Massacre asserted in a forceful tone. <P> <I>Deal? What deal?</I> <P> "Who cares? Sinister has what he wants! It doesn't matter now!" <P> <I>What he wants...? Does she mean Gambit? ...What deal are they talking about?</I> <P> "You have your orders." <P> At first she nodded and backed down, but then, as soon as 'Massacre's attention was off her, her eyes flew up at Bobby and she ran at him. "I don't care, I say we kill them now and deal with it later." She opened her fists quickly and allowed her hands to lengthen and sharpen. <P> She had started her assault with such speed that Bobby didn't have time to react. Before she could reach her prey, however, her progression stopped mid air. "Do I get a vote?" A wavery voice asked. <P> "I should have know you'd be up by now," Massacre stated without turning. <P> "Yes. You should have," She concurred. <P> "Put me DOWN!" Syphon wailed. <P> Pix just smiled. <P> "You BITCH!!! Put me down!!!" <P> "Well I suppose, if you insist." Reversing Syphon's progress, Pix slammed her backwards into Midnight Massacre. <P> "You okay, sir?" <P> "It's Bobby, and I should be asking you." <P> She shrugged off his concern. "We should-- Ack!" <P> "You'll stay down THIS time!" Massacre grated, pushing Syphon off of him. "It's about time you died little girl. In my opinion, you've lived too long already." <P> Getting up, he took aim at her. Bobby jumped into action. He lifted his own arms and blew with everything he had at 'Massacre, while at the same time 'Massacre changed the direction of his blow, and fired at Bobby. <P> It appeared to be a stand off, but then Bobby started to feel very weak. He stopped blasting at the same time as 'Massacre. Looking down, he noticed that Syphon had taken a hold of his leg, and was actually drawing the strength out of him and into herself. <I>Shit...</I> Bobby thought as he fell to his knees. <P> Looking up, however, he learned that he wasn't the only one falling at the moment. Midnight Massacre was screaming in pain and terror, as Pix used her powers to tear him apart, inside out. She was laying on the ground, looking up at him, not even looking as if she was breathing, and her eyes fixed to one place, but she was still fighting. <P> Bobby and Massacre hit the ground at the same time. As they did, Pix looked into Bobby's eyes, "I g't m'ne..." she whispered closing her eyes. <P> "Sorry... guessya picked the wrong partner..." He gasped back. <P> The word 'Partner' sparked memories in her. <I><B>Hope...?</B></I> she squeaked out over her mind link. <B><I>Hope... rake it in girl... we need y' help...</I></B> <P> <B><I><TT>...Pix? What's going on?</B></I></TT> <P> <B><I>help...</B></I> <P> Hope shook her head to clear the cobwebs. Her body was cold, but she could tell that the space around her was hot. For some reason, there was no breathable air around her. She was tired and in pain, and already the current was threatening to over take her, and pull back into the blissful oblivion again. She longed to be a part of that peace again, but Pix needed her. Still holding her broken locket tight to her heart, Hope stood as best she could and pushed on the glass. It wasn't as brittle as it should have been, but then again, Hope had no idea how long she was out. The heat inside might have countered the effects of the ice. <P> She pulled back against the back of the casement and then slammed the front with all she had. Nothing happened. She did this twice more, and still, nothing happened. On the fourth try, however, she heard a crack. <P> <B><I>I'm commin'... I'm commin just hang on.</B></I> <P> For the last time, Hope pulled back and flung herself into the glass. This time when she hit, she didn't stop right away. The glass and ice cut into her as she fell, but she ignored it. Climbing quickly to her feet, she surveyed the damage in the room. <P> She let out a small gasp when she saw Kristine, but continued along. There was a lot of energy coursing through her, and she was looking for action. Action, however, found her. <P> As her eyes landed on Blaze, she hesitated a moment. Syphon took that opportunity to come up behind her and wrap her arms around her. <P> Hope decided that this was as good a time as any to get rid of that access energy. "<B>Suck on this!</B>" She yelled, grabbing Syphon's wrists, and releasing everything she didn't want into her. "Hope you're good and hungry Vampire." <P> "Noooooo..." Syphon screeched, as everything Hope absorbed coursed through her, and into her enemy. <P> "Yes," Hope retorted, as the two of them fell to the floor. <P> She waited a few moments after she felt Syphon go limp, then let her drop to the floor. <B><I>You okay Pix?</B></I> She asked as she caught her breath. A few more minutes passed, and she didn't hear anything. <B><I>Pix?</B></I> She questioned, her head bouncing up to scan the room. <P> "Hey. Are you alright?" Bobby asked, leaning up against the wall. <P> "Pix?" Hope squawked out frantically, just finding her voice. Finally her eyes focused and caught sight of her best friend. "No..." She gasped, getting to her feet and stumbling over to her. "...I can't have lost you too..." Tears were falling down her face as she thought of Blaze, and of Kristine, and now... <P> She reached her and picked her up into her lap, whispering silent prayers for all those lost today. "Pixie? Pix can you hear me?" She begged desperately. "Everything's going to be alright now Pix. We're going to go home now, we're going to be free." <P> "...Promises... promises..." <P> "Oh thank God! I thought you were--" <P> "Well 'm not. I was just winded. Common," She sighed, getting to her feet. "Let's get the Hell outta here." <P> "Don't gotta tell me twice." <P> "Lead the way," Bobby declared, gesturing to the door. <P> <hr> <P> Donald ran out the door as fast as he could. The woman he was carrying was drifting in and out of consciousness and the burns on her legs were really bad. Apart from those burns and the fact that every so often she would let out a soft moan or cry though, it didn't appear that she was that wounded. In fact she looked at least twice as goodas he himself did. Pushing his own problems out of his mind, Donald looked at Brian. <P> Brian was running for all he was worth. Although he didn't like to admit it, Brian was really quite a slow runner, not to mention a poor fighter. He was lucky that Pix had stopped him earlier or he'd be in the same boat as Kristine right now. <P> <I>Poor Kristine. It's not right that she be killed just yet. Her life was so sad and painful, as was Brian's, until they had found each other. It had been sad and painful afterwards too, but at least they had each other to help them through. </I> Donald sighed at that. <P> <I>Casey doesn't look too good either. She must have linked with Blaze when his powers went off. I hope she's going to be alright.</I> <P> <I>'Hope.' Hmp. I wonder what happened with her. And with Pix and That X-Man. Or with Marrow and Angel for that matter. I hope their alright.</I> Donald shook his head. <I>I gotta start worrying about us getting out of here, before one of Sinister's goons catch up to us.</I> <P> "Stay right where you are, and no one gets hurt," a woman ordered from behind them. <P> "You won't take us back alive Essex!" Brian yelled grabbing Donald's arm, and turning them all invisible. <P> "Essex?" Doctor Cecilia Reyes questioned, as she turned to Wolverine. <P> "Sinister," he responded in a gruff tone, then yelled to the others. "Knock it off, we're not working for Sinister. Come back out." <P> "How do you know they're still here?" <P> "If the kid was a transporter, they'd be out already." <P> One of the boys steeped out of the cloak and addressed them from a distance. "You're Logan aren't you?" Wolverine nodded and Donald nodded back. <P> "How did you know that?" The woman inquired. <P> The boy was apparently staring into space, and responded very nonchalantly, with a shrug, "Spent a lot 'a time <I>training</I> with Creed. Logan was the only person who ever really got under his skin. I eventually learned to use it against him." His voice seemed distant, and he had long since seemed to have ceased caring about the two X-Men. <P> He spoke again as if annoyed, but not to Wolverine or Cecilia. "Of course I'm sure... For Christ's sake Brian, I studied the guy for five months before I took out Creed... 'A little convenient'? They're probably here looking for Remy... Yeah well you don't trust anybody... Oh will you just shut up and put down your damn cloak?" <P> To Logan and Cecilia, it appeared that Donald was either nuts, or having a conversation with an invisible person. <P> As ludicrous as it may have sounded to any normal person, the second option was entirely accurate. In a matter of seconds, Brian appeared beside Donald, and Psylocke and Casey appeared behind them. <P> Brian looked at Donald, then at the two X-Men. "I hope you're right about this." <P> "You know I'm right," Donald responded as Wolverine and Cecilia ran towards them, or rather to the two females laying on the floor behind them. <P> "The girl appears to be in shock. Elizabeth has second and third degree burns on her legs, but that doesn't appear to account for why she's unconscious." <P> Brian stood to the side of the hallway and watched the whole seen as Donald bent down next to Casey. "I- I think I might know why," He stuttered without taking his eyes off Casey. <P> Logan and Cecilia gave each other a look, and waited for him to go on. Even Brian seemed interested, as had closed the distance between them all. <P> "Sometimes when Casey's upset, she'll reach out for one of us. Usually Hope or Blaze. But when Blaze... when he... was... he..." <P> "When he died Casey was terrified. She reached out to Blaze and felt his pain and then reached out to Hope and felt her fear, so she turned in on herself." <P> "Uh, yeah. She didn't want to go to anyone else for help because she was so hurt and afraid. The woman must have reached out to her... Somehow." <P> "That makes sense. She appears to be feeling shock, except, unlike most shock victims, she is still thinking logically enough to fight it off." <P> At that moment Betsy bolted upright in a gasp for air. She looked around at the faces surrounding her, and then reached out for the child, "Casey?" She squeaked, crawling towards her and scooping her up in her arms, "Come on. Snap out of it." <P> Casey opened her eyes looked around, and then nestled into Betsy's arms. Psylocke let out a huge sigh of relief, and then allowed herself to look at the others, "I just about had her calmed down, then something hit her from outside," She then glanced at Donald, "I think one of your friends may be in trouble." <P> Donald went wide-eyed, but Brian kept a logical head about him, "Do you know who or where?" <P> "No I don't. I just know that the link between them was very strong, and that they were in a lot of pain." <P> Brian nodded, "Hope or Pix." <P> "Yes?" Came the reply in unison, as the fore mentioned teenagers heard their names. <P> "What are you still doing inside?" Bobby interrogated. <P> "We ran into a few of your friends," Brian answered, gesturing to Logan and Cecilia, as Donald bounded up from his coached position on the floor. <P> "Hoooope!!! You're alright!!!" He screamed, just as a school girl seeing an old friend she hadn't seen in a long time, enclosing her in a hug. <P> "I'm happy to see you too Don," she whispered sheepishly. <P> "Ferme La! (Shut up) Y' bein' loud 'nough t' wake the dead," Pix hissed. <P> "If you guys are here, then who's pain did she feel?" <P> Casey let out a sob and pulled even closer to Betsy. She too let out a sob and cradled Casey closer. <P> "What is it Bets'?" <P> "Remy..." She gasped. <P> <hr> <P> alright, I'm in enough of a rut to stop this for now.<BR> CRIM�ON. <P> NOTE : bloody fantastic. I like it. MOre more more. *s* <P> <CENTER><A HREF= "https://members.tripod.com/~X_Crimson_X/GUILD/Members/CRIMSON1.HTM">Index Page</A> <A HREF="https://members.tripod.com/~X_Crimson_X/"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="https://members.tripod.com/~X_Crimson_X/PICTURES/blue2.bmp" Width= "120" Height= "80"></A> <A HREF="https://members.tripod.com/~X_Crimson_X/GUILD/WTFH/PART11.HTM">Part Eleven</A> </BODY></HTML>