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Title: The New Mutants, volume XIX: Unholy Alliance
Author: kanedax
Fandom: X-Men Movieverse
Spoilers: X3, The New Mutants volumes I-XIII (see above)
Rating: PG-13 for language and mild violence
Pairings: Bobby/Kitty, slight Peter/Rogue
Summary: The pieces are put in place for the final showdown with the Phoenix.
Notes: After this chapter, I'm seeing four more chapters for the New Mutants. Well, okay, four more chapters in the story, but there's not telling what could be in store in the future. But this storyline should be done by Halloween, just in time for me to get going on NaNo. Thanks for everyone who's been reading! As usual, I do not own the X-Men, 20th Century Fox, or Marvel Comics. But I pwnd Clapton a few days ago, finally beating Crossroads on Guitar Hero's Expert mode. Take that!
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Connor Jones blinked.
“Boring,” he muttered as he idly changed channels on the television.
“I hate Saturday television,” Alison muttered, sprawled out on her stomach on the couch.
Logan walked into the living room to hear this comment. “Then why are you still watching it?”
Alison pointed at the screen, which Jones had just flipped from golf to a commercial for a pocket-sized blender. “Pretty colors,” she replied groggily.
“Uh, huh,” Logan said, snorting. He slapped Alison on the leg, “Come on, get up. I think it’s time we had an impromptu class.”
“Huh?” Jimmy slurred, turning his head from the television, which had stopped on CNN.
“Hokay, this is going to be a blast,” Logan said to himself, then said loud enough for the entire Academy to hear: “Ass-Kicking Class! Outside! Ten minutes!”
“Yeah, right,” Alison groaned, rolling her face into the couch’s pillow.
“But it’s, like, cold outside,” Jones said, his head rolling back to look at an upside down Logan.
“Not every war is fought on a warm sunny day,” Logan said, opening the closet to pull out his trusty leather jacket, “And they’re not all fought in the safe confines of the Danger Room, either.”
“It’s voluntary, isn’t it?” Alison said.
“Keep it up and it won’t be,” Logan growled. Alison sleepily lifted her middle finger, then turned back to the television.
“We’re doing some snow sparring?” Remy said as he, Theresa and Lucas entered the living room. “Sounds like a good time.”
“See, Dazzler?” Logan said. “Remy here knows what fun is.” He turned to the other hall, where he saw Hank walking through, followed by Bobby and Kitty.
“Grab Peter and Rogue,” he said to the couple, “We’re gonna do some sparring.”
Hank looked at Logan sternly, then turned to the other two. “Kitty can,” he said. “Bobby can’t.”
“What?” Bobby said. “What do you mean I can’t?”
“You’re not in any condition to fight yet,” Hank replied.
“I’m feeling a lot better!” Bobby said. “Ouch!”
Hank pulled his finger away from Bobby’s stomach, where he had poked one of his healing wounds. “See?”
“Logan?” Bobby pleaded, but Logan shrugged.
“Doctor’s orders, kid,” he replied.
“Can I get a leave of absence, Doc?” Alison asked, still lying on the couch.
“I don’t think I can find an excuse for you, my dear,” Hank replied.
“But…” Alison stumbled. “I don’t know… I have a hangnail that’s killing me. Oh, and it’s that time of the month!”
“Doesn’t that make you more prone to violence?” Lucas said. Alison gave him a dirty look, but didn’t even have the energy to pull herself up to slap him.
“Well, no one said it’s mandatory,” Hank said. “I can’t stop you from being-“
Hanks words trailed off as he looked up at the television.
“Oh, my stars and garters,” he said quietly. The group turned to look at the screen. On it, a warehouse fire was being shown.
“What?” Logan said to Hank. “The caption says it’s a paint factory.”
As the caption below the picture switched from FIRE BLAZING IN SUBURBAN KENTUCKY to THIRD FIRE IN THREE DAYS FOR QUICKMIX FACTORIES, ARSON SUSPECTED, Hank shook his head.
“No, it’s not,” he said, and quickly ran out of the living room to the elevator. Logan and the rest of the group stared after him.
“Huh,” Logan said.
“What was that about?” Kitty asked.
“Not a clue,” Logan replied. “But he’ll say eventually, trust me. In the meantime, the lesson awaits. Kitty, did you find the other two?”
“I think Peter and Rogue drove into town,” she replied. “Grocery shopping. Alex went with.”
“Lucky them,” Alison muttered.
“Don’t worry,” Theresa said jokingly. “I’ll bring back some snow for you. Or the back of your shirt. Either way.”
“I’m up!” Alison said, bounding to her feet. Jimmy followed suit, pushing himself from the chair, but Jones kept himself comfortably in place, blinking the channels on the television.
“How about Clarice?” Lucas asked.
“She’s fine,” Logan said, turning down the hallway to the front entrance. “Come on, let’s get going.”
“Are you sure?” Lucas continued, following him. “I would think she’d want to…”
“I said she’s fine!” Logan snapped. “She wouldn’t want to be in my lesson, anyway.”
“Why do you say that?” Jimmy asked.
“Because she’d get hurt,” Logan growled, his fists clenched. Jimmy and Alison gave each other a nervous look, but kept silent. The group of six students followed behind, sensing enough to give him a good distance.
“We’re going to learn about throws today,” Logan said. “I figure the snow’s thick enough where you guys can toss each other around without getting hurt too much.”
“You didn’t say anything about throws,” Alison said. “I’m not dressed for the snow.”
“What’s the matter?” Logan said, snickering, “afraid you’ll mess up your…”
He stopped in the middle of the hallway five feet from the door, raising his hand. The students stopped behind him. He sniffed the air, and instinctively threw his fists out to his sides. He looked down at them, realizing once again that there was nothing coming out, and shook his head in disappointment.
“What’s going on?” Jimmy asked, but Logan lifted a finger to his lips, stalking towards the door. He reached out to the knob, twisted it, and threw it open, at the same time tossing his fist out into the outside air. The kids heard a meaty smack, followed by a man’s groan and a flop. Logan dove out the door screaming, and the students ran forward when they heard repeated punches landing.
“Logan!” Kitty yelled, grabbing onto him and attempting to pull him off the body he was straddling. He quickly brushed her aside, his fist connecting once again with the man’s face.
“Jesus, he’s going to kill him,” Theresa breathed as she and Remy leaped forward, and the three of them together were able to haul Logan up. He twisted and struggled in their grasp, his mouth practically foaming as he snarled.
“We could use a little help!” Kitty screamed, and Jimmy and Alison joined the melee. Lucas sprinted off to find more help.
“What’s going on?” Bobby asked as he ran onto the scene, bumping shoulders with Lucas as they passed. The five students had pulled Logan from the doorway, and Bobby looked down at the man who was now attempting to stand. He seemed to be having difficulty doing so, since one of his arms was missing.
“Well,” Magneto groaned, blood pouring from his nose, “I can’t say it’s a pleasure to see you, either, Wolverine.”
“Just once,” Hank muttered, “I’d like to be able to leave this lab long enough to get a nice sandwich.” He carefully placed a bandage on Erik Lehnsherr’s forehead, who recoiled backwards, hissing in pain.
“Watch what you’re doing, you baboon!” he cursed.
“Cram it,” Logan muttered, pacing behind Hank.
“A nice tuna sandwich,” Hank continued. “On wheat. With tomato, and a slice of cheddar.”
The med lab door hissed open, and Ororo Munroe walked in, followed closely behind by Forge, Sean, and Kurt. She shoved Hank aside, and pulled Erik’s head back by his hair. He cried out.
“What are you doing here?” Ororo asked, her face inches from his.
“I’m asking myself that very question,” he replied.
“Toasted would be wonderful,” Hank sighed. “With a pickle. And maybe some coleslaw.”
“You’re the one that showed up on our doorstep, mate,” Sean said, leaning against the wall.
“Yes, and I’m starting to regret it,” Erik groaned. “See what kind of hospitality I get?”
“One of your Brotherhood goons murdered Jubilation Lee,” Ororo said between clenched teeth. “Two more children, and one teacher, died because of your actions. Be lucky I’m only pulling your hair.”
“Can I hit him again?” Logan asked.
“Logan,” Forge said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Logan shrugged it aside, and began bouncing up and down like a boxer before a prizefight.
“Come on,” Logan said. “It’s fun!”
“Logan!” Forge repeated.
“I’ll let you take the next swing.”
“I’ll let him,” Ororo breathed into Erik’s face. “He’s got a lot of pent-up rage after having all his adamantium torn out.”
“Charles!” Erik screamed.
“What?”
“Charles told me to come!”
“Was?” Kurt said in awe. Ororo released Erik’s hair, and stepped back.
“You spoke with Brian,” she said.
“Who the hell is Brian?” Erik asked sharply. “I said I spoke with Charles. He asked me to come here. To tell you what I know, and to tell you what he told me. About the Phoenix.”
Ororo grabbed a chair and dragged it in front of Erik. She sat down.
“Talk,” she said.
“I don’t know,” Erik said, sneering. “You folks have been awful mean to me.”
Ororo pointed a finger at Erik, and a spark of electricity shot out at him. He jerked in shock.
“Alright,” he cried. “I’ll talk.”
He proceeded to tell the X-Men everything that had occurred since he appeared in the deserts of Tunisia: his first encounter with the Phoenix, his race across the ocean (“I quickly learned that super speed lets you walk on water.”), and his conversation with Charles in his hideout.
“She’s insane,” Erik said. “I’ve never met anyone so filled with gleeful cruelty. And she kept going on about ‘Muggles’ and ‘Black Knights’ and other nonsense, whatever those mean.”
“Well,” Logan shook his head, “I suppose when you have a psychic link with a nerd like Scott for so many years, you tend to pick up a few Monty Python quotes.”
“She’s going to kill my children,” Erik said. “Lorna and Pietro.” It took Ororo a few seconds to recognize the sorrow in Erik’s voice, as it was an emotion he had never shown before. “And then she’s going to kill whoever killed Jean, and then me. After that…” he shrugged. “She’s probably going to kill whoever and whatever she pleases.”
“But she doesn’t know where they are?” Sean asked. “Your children? Or the murderer?”
“No,” Erik replied. “She read my mind, but I didn’t know the locations of either of them. I would assume that they’re being held at the Raft, but the only way I got there in the first place was through a mental profile created by Jamie Madrox and Alvin Wyngarde for Blink. I don’t even know where it is. I don’t think many do.”
“I don’t think it matters if you knew or not,” Hank said softly. “I think she’s already on her way there.” He sat down by his computer and began to type.
Ororo turned to Hank. “What do you mean?”
“I was afraid it was too much to be coincidental,” he muttered, opening the CNN front page. He clicked on one of the sidebar headlines.
“S.H.I.E.L.D. has a few public buildings,” Hank replied. “But they’re clandestine enough where maybe ninety percent of their operations are hidden. Placed behind a facade of fake corporate names, offices, and warehouses. Corporations like the Quickmix Paint Company.”
“Quickmix?” Logan said. “The warehouse in Kentucky?”
“That wasn’t a warehouse,” Hank said, turning the screen to the group. “Three S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities in three days, all labeled as Quickmix facilities. All destroyed. No public pronouncement of a body count, because S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to keep the truth hidden.”
“How do you know all this?” Sean asked.
“Because I’m the government, my boy,” Hank replied simply. “Spending years as the Secretary of Mutant Affairs, and a member of the UN Security Council, you get to learn a few things.”
He turned to Erik. “You didn’t need to tell the Phoenix where Pietro and Lorna are,” he said. “Knowing that they’re being held by S.H.I.E.L.D. is all she needed to know. After that, even with her limited telepathic ability, it’s simply a matter of playing Six Degrees. Finding someone who knows someone involved with S.H.I.E.L.D., even a low cog on the wheel, then slowly working her up the bureaucratic ladder until she reaches the Raft.”
“But the fires?” Kurt breathed. “She wouldn’t need to do that, to kill all those people.”
“Foolish boy,” Erik said, his mouth suddenly dry, “She’s doing that for fun.”
“Mein Gott.”
“She’s doing it all for fun,” Erik continued. “In a few months, maybe even weeks, she could have the power to destroy the world. Even now she could level a city if she wished.”
“But she wants her revenge first,” Logan finished.
“Yes,” Erik said, clutching the side of his chest, where his arm once lay, “she does.”
“Hank,” Ororo said, pushing herself up from the chair. “Contact S.H.I.E.L.D. Tell them what we know, and tell them what’s coming. Forge, Sean, Kurt: gear up.”
“What’s the plan?” Forge asked.
“What do you think?” she said. “We’re going to the Raft.”
“It’s about damn time,” Logan said, walking to the door. Ororo put her hand on his chest, stopping him.
“You’re not going,” she said.
“What?”
“I said you’re not going. You’re staying here. You killed Jean, that makes you a prime target for the Phoenix.”
“Wolverine?” Erik said, chuckling. “I had a feeling it was you. It was always you, wasn’t it?”
“I have no problem being a primary target,” Logan growled, ignoring Erik.
“No,” Ororo said sternly.
“Logan’s right, Ororo,” Hank said. “He should probably go.”
“Hank, I’m in charge, don’t overstep my…”
“Just because you’re in charge doesn’t mean you’re thinking,” Hank said. “Logan knows he killed Jean. So do I. So do you. And so does everyone in this room, including Magneto. Which is why Magneto should go, as well.”
“Are you insane?” Ororo yelled.
“Magneto and Logan are both prime targets,” Hank continued, his voice rising. “All the Phoenix needs to do is read one of our minds, and they’ll know where they’re located. Here. In the school.”
Ororo’s hand dropped from Logan’s chest, and she closed her eyes. How could I be so stupid?
“Do you want the Phoenix to come back here?” Hank said forcefully. “Do you want to put these children in danger again? As soon as the Phoenix finds out where these two are being stashed, then she’s gone. If they’re with us, then she has all of her targets right there, and she won’t be going anywhere until they’re all finished.”
“Or until she’s finished,” Logan said.
“I may not be of much use anymore,” Magneto said quietly. “But the Phoenix took my arm, and wants to take my children. Whatever differences we may have, I set them aside until she is destroyed, once and for all.”
“Someone has to stay behind,” Sean said. “If we lose, then there’s a very good chance that the school is the next target.”
“I will stay,” Kurt replied. “I’m not much for fighting anymore, but I can get the students out of danger quickly if the need should arise.”
“Should we bring any of the juniors?” Logan asked. “Bobby? Kitty? Pete?”
“Not Bobby,” Hank said. “In his state he’s still too much of a liability in battle.”
“I’ll go grab some equipment,” Forge said, walking from the room.
“I’ll contact S.H.I.E.L.D.,” Hank said. “See if they can get us some transportation to the Raft.”
Ororo shook her head. “We don’t know when the Phoenix will be attacking,” she said. “It may be three hours from now, or three days from now. But we can’t waste any time waiting for a helicopter.”
“Please don’t be suggesting what I think you are,” Logan groaned.
The elevator door slid open, and Ororo stepped out, followed closely by Sean, Logan, and Erik.
“Go find her, would you?” she asked Sean, who nodded and jogged down the hall towards the stairs.
“I don’t like this,” Logan growled as the three walked down the hallway
“For once,” Erik replied, “we are in total agreement.”
The three turned the corner, and were met by Rogue, Peter, and Alex, their arms loaded with groceries.
“Oh, good,” Ororo said, “where’s Kitty?”
Two bags fell to the ground.
“What are you doing here?” Rogue asked.
“Hello, my dear girl,” Erik said, his voice dripping. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
Rogue’s hand flipped down to the dropped bag. Three cans of soup and a pie tin flew from the bag and launched themselves at Erik. He flipped his hand up, and the objects floated in mid-air.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” he said. “Impressive.”
“I learned it from you,” Rogue said, her voice growing murderous.
“Stop it!” Ororo shouted as she watched the cans slowly denting in the air as the two magnetic forces pressed against them.
“We should have wiped you off the planet when we had the chance,” Rogue growled. “You and your Brotherhood.” Logan and Ororo both turned in shock at the sound of her voice, which had lost its Southern accent and had been replaced by the European accent of Erik Lehnsherr.
“Rogue!” Logan yelled, jumping between them and grabbing her by the shoulders. As her hands dropped, her face lost its fury. The cans flew towards them, slamming Logan in the back of the head.
“What the fuck?” he screamed, holding the back of his head.
“I’m sorry,” Magneto said, his voice far from meaning it. “I guess I pushed too long.”
“Ah didn’t mean that,” Rogue said quickly, her Mississippi accent returning. “Ah’m sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Logan said. “You know it’s his fault anyway.”
“What do you mean by that?” Erik said sharply.
“Never mind,” Ororo said. “Peter, find Kitty and suit up. We got a big one.”
“Sure thing,” Peter said.
“What about me?” Rogue asked, grabbing Peter before he could leave. “Do you need me to suit up?”
Ororo looked at Rogue uncertainly. A woman with Multiple Personality Complex versus a powerful telepath.
“We need you to stay here,” Ororo said. “You, Kurt, and Bobby are staying here to watch the fort in case things go bad.”
“Bad?” Alex said. “What do you mean, bad?”
“Phoenix bad,” Ororo said simply, and watched as Alex’s eyes grew large.
“That thing?” he said. “The thing that Brian turned into?”
“We know where it’s hitting next,” Ororo said to Peter. “But there’s a chance it might come here after it’s done with its mission.”
“Shit,” Alex said quietly.
“Peter,” Ororo said shortly. “Kitty. Suit. Now.”
Peter nodded, and then ran off. Rogue watched after him for a second, then followed close behind.
“Logan, I would suggest that you probably suit up yourself,” Ororo said. “Erik… I don’t know what you want to do.”
Erik looked down at the uniform he had taken from his lair after he had awoken. “I think I like this just fine,” he said, pulling the cape around his armless shoulder.”
“I have to go ask a quick favor of Forge, anyway,” Logan said, and walked back to the elevator.
“I have to make a quick call,” Ororo said. “I think I might be able to bring in an extra hand for surveillance.”
She walked down the hall towards her office, leaving Erik and Alex standing awkwardly in the hallway.
“So…” Alex said uncomfortably, his arms swinging by his side “Nice weather we’re having…”
“Lovely,” Erik growled.
Bobby Drake and Marie D’Ancanto sat on the locker room bench, watching in quiet frustration as Kitty Pryde and Peter Rasputin both changed into their leather uniforms.
Marie broke the silence. “I hate this,” she said sullenly.
“I know,” Peter said, pulling up his pants.
“Why can’t we go with?” she said. “You’re going to need all the help you can get!”
“Because someone needs to stay and protect the students, Rogue,” Kitty said as she slid her suit up her body. “You know that.”
“No, I don’t know that,” Marie pressed. “They handled themselves just fine when the Brotherhood attacked…”
“Some of them did,” Bobby said quietly. “Some of them locked up. I don’t know how they’d react if it happened again.”
“Why are you even going to the Raft, anyway?” she persisted, her accent growing thicker in her anger. “To protect a couple of criminals? What’s the point of risking your life for them?”
“It’s part of being an X-Man,” Peter said. “Sometimes you have to do things you don’t agree with. You just have to hope that what you’re doing is for the best.”
“I hate it,” Rogue said quietly.
“I know…” Peter said.
“I hate that you’re going off to fight this thing,” she continued, “and I hate knowing that someone might not come back. Just like the last time. And the time before that. And the time before that.”
“I know,” Peter repeated.
“And I hate not being there to be able to fight alongside y’all,” she said, choking. “Watching your back, making sure it doesn’t happen again. Like with Jubilee.”
They sat in silence. Peter turned back to the locker, zipping up his vest, while Kitty walked over to Bobby, turning her back to him.
“Could you zip me?” she said quietly. Bobby stood up, pulled the zipper up her back, then closed his arms around her from behind.
“Be safe,” he whispered.
“You too,” she replied.
“Everybody,” Rogue said, standing with them. Peter turned to the group, and joined them: four young X-Men, together for years, possibly for the last time.
Rogue held her gloved hands out, and took Bobby’s hand in one, and Kitty’s in the other. Kitty reached out to take Peter’s, and Peter took Bobby’s. Bobby turned to the corner locker.
“Clarice?” he said quietly. Clarice turned to the four, Kitty’s spare pink-trimmed uniform looking slightly baggy on her.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to interrupt.”
“Do you want to join in?” he asked. Clarice nodded, and slipped in between Bobby and Peter, taking their hands.
“Promise me,” Rogue said firmly, “That you’ll take care of each other. That you’ll come back alive.”
Kitty nodded her head. “I promise,” she said.
“I promise to do my best,” Peter said.
“I’ll try,” Clarice said quietly.
Rogue turned her head, looking into the eyes of her teammates.
“That’s all I can really ask,” she said.
“Rogue?” Kitty said when the circle broke. Rogue turned to her, and Kitty pulled her glove off.
“What are you doing?” Rogue asked, slightly fearfully.
“Making sure you keep them safe,” Kitty responded, and touched her bare hand to Rogue’s cheek. Seconds passed, then Kitty pulled her hand away, gasping.
“Are you alright?” Rogue asked, and Kitty nodded.
“Thought my phasing powers might come in handy in case I have to break my promise,” she said softly.
Rogue nodded, a wave of Kitty’s memory suddenly striking her, and she pulled Kitty into a hug.
“I’ll take care of him,” she whispered into Rogue’s ear. “I’ll take care of Bobby for you.”
“I know you will,” Kitty replied.
The five exchanged ‘good lucks’ and ‘take cares.’ Bobby and Kitty held each other for a long time, and Peter surprised Rogue by giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Take care,” he said as she blushed.
“I will,” she replied, slightly flustered.
Finally, the X-Men left the locker room and entered the main hallway of the basement. Storm stood in her battle uniform, along with Wolverine, Banshee, Forge, Beast, and, standing slightly apart from the others, Magneto. Forge and Beast each carried two large bags that appeared quite heavy, and Wolverine was tightening some straps that were around his right palm.
“What do you have, Logan?” Rogue asked, and Logan chuckled.
“Forge tossed together a quick gizmo for me,” he said. He tightened his fist, and three of his adamantium claws, torn free by Magneto weeks ago, flipped up into a striking position.
“Careful with that,” Forge said quickly. “Those things are a little more exposed than they were when they were in your arm.”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” Logan replied, relaxing his hand and causing the claws to flip back down, resting against his forearm.
“Colossus, Shadowcat,” Storm said. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kitty replied, and Peter nodded in agreement.
“Blink?” she said, turning to Clarice. “Remember where we’re going?”
Clarice nodded, holding out her hand. Within seconds, a hole appeared in the air in front of them, the metal hallway of the Raft floating on the other side.
“Let’s go,” Storm said, and the X-Men stepped through the portal. Bobby and Marie stood in the hallway, watching as Blink turned to them and waved. Bobby wrapped his arm around Marie’s shoulder, and the two waved back as the hole closed, leaving the two of them to wonder when they would see each other again.
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