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Chapter 19: Ugly

PSYCOM Industries
Skies above Annapolis, Maryland
Mid-morning…

“Storm, on your six!” Cyclops shouted the warning to his teammate as the set of the motion sensor beam cannons fired another volley of energy rounds down on them. The shots splintered the ground they walked upon but the X-Men scattered, springing into action.

They had barely made it inside the PYSCOM facility before the group was under heavy fire. Electronic eyes, motion sensors, beam cannons, laser energy grids, and automated rail gun turrets sprang up all around them, surrounding the four-person group. It soon became apparent that all of the center’s automated defenses were still online and had registered every one of them as hostiles. Endless hallways of gray stainless steel metallic corridors littered within the technological center and it seemed that every bend they turned was met with more of the facility’s mechanical resistance systems, which in total was hindering all of their progression.

Storm the weather goddess, quick to react, called on her other call sign. The gale of wind she already summoned previously instantly surrounded her. She somersaulted in the air dropping into a low dip as shots rained upon the place she just was standing. The weather goddess then strafed along the floor barrel spinning onto her back, Storm’s velvet voice rang out as she asked the elements to lend her their aid. Her eyes were like ivory flames surging with the uninhibited power of the elements. The next instance the hallway flashed white as she unleashed an erratic bolt of lightning from her fingertips that not only demolished the beam cannon, but the four others that happened to be nearby it.

Cyclops watched for another moment as Storm flew overhead, a series of explosions following her wake as she proceeded to smite any and all that dared to fire upon the weather goddess. Tearing his attention away from the Windrider's display, the X-Men leader quickly whipped his head around. His crimson visor flashed in three successions, sprinkling three more turrets into metallic confetti. Cyclops then did a quick once over to get a momentary scan on everyone’s status.

He saw the younger man Colossus, in steel form, soaring through the air. The young Russian lunged into the huge barrel of one of the rail guns. The high-tech aluminum-cartridge weapon managed to set off one more shot that was completely in point blank range, exploding with fiery light right in front of the Russian’s face.

It succeeded in titling the steel Titan’s head back…slightly.

Colossus then took his massive hands, the high-pitch squealing of metal wailed in protest as he ripped the weapon’s nozzle clean from off its mount! Colossus then hurtled the damn thing through the air like a steel missile. The long metal pole blasted through a neighboring rail gun turret, flipped over then crashed through the wall behind it.

If there wasn’t a hallway present in the original blueprints, there was one now.

Nodding at Colossus’ control of his situation, Cyclops then turned to Jean, who at the moment, held a look of mild interest. An air of alarm flared within him as he looked beyond her to the pulse gun that wheeled around to her direction. Automatically his hand went to rim of his visor, preparing to fire, but then he heard a soft, ‘I got it sweetheart,’ Jean’s voice whispered into his mind. He then felt the certain mental caress that she often performed on him, which was like a telepathic kiss.

Jean’s eyes flared in that next moment, she whipped her hand out throwing up an invisible barrier of psychic energy that repelled all the shells fired. Jean concentrated for but a moment, then slowly closed the palm of her hand and that very same instance the mounted gun that was her agitator started to crumble under an awesome compressed field of telekinetic force. The psychic then elevated the fragments from the wreckage into the air. With a quick flick of her hand she sent a hailstorm wave of shrapnel and steel tearing through at least a dozen other pulse gun mounts.

Cyclops couldn’t help but grin, feeling almost foolish for worrying. The stern leader quickly cleared his thoughts, regaining his game face. Most of PSYCOM’s defense systems were either destroyed or out of commission. Now it was time to do clean up. “X-Men…TUCK TAIL!” he shouted in warning to his other teammates. Each of them quickly made sure to stand clear.

Cyclops then threw his hands back as if to brace. The X-Men leader’s head pitched back as his eyes started to build with the full unrestrained might of his mutation. Cyclops then threw himself forward unleashing a crimson blast so massive it completely covered the expansive of the entire hallway. For a few moments it was as if everything was stained with red then finally the lights died down.

The hallway was a smoldering wreck, leaving the group a clear way. The X-Men converged around Cyclops in moments. The stern man gave everyone another once over, noticing that they all appeared to be uninjured. He nodded, “Good work, team. Let’s keep moving,” Cyclops instructed, while taking the lead again.

OoOoOo

Victor Creed moved slowly through shadow.

Soundless were his actions as he crept through the dark corridors of PSYCOM. Victor knew he was very good at what he did, but more than once Creed looked over his shoulder, watching back the way he came. Only the eternal darkness of the hallways stared back at him. Even though Sabertooth had perfect vision in the dark, in this instant he honestly wasn’t expecting to see much in the first place. He couldn’t see him or smell him, but Victor Creed knew he was there.

Sabertooth still could recall that coot, Magneto’s words, “Do whatever is necessary to make sure the Wolverine is kept separate from the other X-Men.”

“Don’t think that’s gonna be a problem,” Creed muttered grimly to himself. Sabertooth’s clawed hand then went down to inspect his ribcage. He winced slightly from a little bit of discomfort but fortunately, enough time had passed and he was almost fully healed. There were merely only eighteen angry lines that littered his side, not the eighteen gaping slash wounds he previously had from those hellish twelve-inch claws. Taking a breath wasn’t a bitch anymore either.

Creed remembered being so ready to get even with the runt after that bullshit fight they had in Alberta. Victor even went so far as to leave him a calling card when he and Magneto’s boys hit Seattle.

Now that he was thinking about it, that Squall sure was nice. It brought back some real good memories. The two of them almost fucked the same way and her blood was just as sweet.

Anyway…

Creed was ready. Damn, ready for that fucking runt. But the thing chasing him now wasn’t the runt. It smelled like him, looked like him, but that thing wasn’t Wolverine. It diffidently was something else.

OoOoOo

The Beast silently watched as the huge murderous Mutant finally began to move again.

Deep in the belly of the darkness, suspended upside-down the Beast’s powerful arms and thighs clutched the cool steel pipeline that ran along the ceiling. The Beast first released its burly arms, allowing its torso to swing down. Not a moment later did it release its legs, flipping its body to the ground, landing on the balls of his feet without making a sound.

Creed…

That was what the Coward called him. Although names and labels matter not, this Creed dared to take what was rightfully theirs. That warranted enough.

Silent, like a shadow the Beast moved. It knows how to travel without being seen. It knows how to remain hidden. The Beast knows it could easily overtake the Coward’s Creed this very moment, but it now relies on the other skill attributed to a great hunter.

Patience…

The Beast knows it was too hasty the first round; because of this the threat to his mate was able to get away that instance. It is not an event that will occur a second time. The Beast has learned from its previous mistake, so now it lies in wait. It already knows what the outcome will bring; it now just simply waits for the opportunity to present itself.

As it moves through the air condition vents, the Beast hears a familiar reverberation. The distant rumbling and thunder of explosions echo through the building’s intricate network to his very ears, the sounds of combat. Instantly its mind returns to his mate and the others in her pack.

While cloaked in shadow he briefly pauses, hesitating for the first time in his steps. Maybe the Beast should join them; make sure that she’s safe. It…The Coward would want that.

No…The Beast shakes his head, his pace now doubled. He has a far nobler task this time. And his mate is strong; she’ll not die in a place like this.

OoOoOo

Within forty-five minutes of entering the PYSCOM compound the X-Men finally managed to reach the heart of the facility, the Operations Center. As the Mutant team made their way inside, they started to spread out, scanning the perimeter while taking in the vast mechanical room.

In some ways the Operations Center reminded each them of the chamber for Cerebro back in the X-Mansion. It was a large expansive room with a single walkway along its center that led to an impressive terminal station. But instead of the metallic panels lining the spherical room, this room’s walls were filled with different monitors in some of the segments. Others parts held large clear panes of glass for the many different viewing rooms. The place gleamed with that sterile clean look you would find common in medical centers or research facilities. Various types of machinery were lit up, which added to the metallic palette of grays, blues, gold, and reds. The walkway in the center had a guardrail trailing along its rim to prevent falls to that cavernous floor. The bottom portion of the center was very deep, seemingly bottomless, filled with several enormous supercomputers that housed all of the servers running through the PSYCOM facility.

As everyone continued to look around, they all couldn’t help but get an eerie feeling tingling in the back of their heads. Something wasn’t right and several things didn’t add up. The outer portion of the PSYCOM facility was virtually in ruins from all the destruction the Brotherhood’s initial attacks caused, but on the inside everything appeared to be undisturbed and even abandoned. Not only that but the sudden loss of the Canadian newcomer Wolverine, was an equally unhinging blow. Since they started moving through the hallways of the facility, they hadn’t come across any trace of the wayward feral mutant.

The sudden thoughts over the fate of the Wolverine made Scott take a momentarily glance over to Ororo. As usual he didn’t know the details, but apparently there was something deeply rooted that passed between her and Logan. The Windrider appeared to be calm and collect as ever. Her hands were as still as a rock; her bright eyes were sharp and attentive. Scott silently sighed to himself.

Just that moment Jean must have picked up his thoughts because the psychic briefly met his gaze. Her green eyes fell onto the weather manipulator for a moment, before returning to him. Ororo might have been able to fool Peter, who hadn’t known her for as long, but her apprehension was apparent to Jean and the X-Men leader. Jean nodded slowly before the two of them returned to their investigation.

“I don’t understand Cyclops,” Storm stated a moment later, “There appears to be no one here.”

Cyclops frowned. His arms crossed over his chest, equally puzzled, “I know, I don’t understand it either.”

“Is it possible the Brotherhood has already left?” Colossus suggested.

“No…” Jean replied; her green eyes were now closed. The lines of her brow frowned as she increased her level of mental concentration. “I’m having a hard time focusing on them, its like some sort of wall is blocking my telepathy. But I know they’re still here.”

“Besides,” Storm added, “I do not believe Sabertooth would remain behind completely alone.”

“Agreed,” Cyclops nodded, “Lets see if we can get a lock on them from the building’s motion sensors,” Summers stated while walking towards one of the functional main terminals.

OoOoOo

Jean Grey was puzzled.

There was a certain presence her mental telepathy was detecting, but the feeling was wrong, maybe even backwards. It was like it was buffered by something, but she had no idea what.

The scarlet haired X-Woman was aware of Magneto’s involvement in the development of Cerebro, not to mention his extensive history with the Professor. So if anything the Master of Magnetism was well versed in the ways of avoiding psychic detection. But Jean was certain that Erik wouldn’t be so bountiful with the gift that he would outfit all of Brotherhood with such equipment. The only other person she could think of was…

Then in that next moment Jean’s green eyes widen in horror. “Peter!!!” she shouted but it was already too late.

Breaking through the wall right behind them, came the thundering steps of a man that looked almost like a human freight train. At six foot nine and over nine hundred pounds the wall of a man steps never faltered, barreling right into the chest of the young Russian mutant. Colossus despite his merit, tried to brace against the impact but the enormous giant was like an unstoppable force that would not be denied. The two great bodies collided; there was a clap then an explosion of rumble as the pair blasted through the railing tumbling over the side. They were a weightless tangle of meaty limbs and hands as Colossus and his aggressor continued their freefall. It seemed like an eternity passed before the pair finally landed at the bottom of the server pit completely obliterating the floor!

“Colossus!” the young Russian heard Cyclops’ voice cry from up top, but he didn’t have any time to respond. Colossus in his steel form stood fast. The younger man didn’t wait for pleasantries. While his opponent’s huge hulking form tried to scramble to his feet; Colossus ran full speed driving with shoulder tackling bum rush, which flung the two Titans through a wall, decimating it by the way, into the following room.

Piotr Rasputin already knew who this was. At six foot nine with a nine hundred pounds weight, which as he witnessed right now was all solid muscle. A sort of auburn colored body armor was forged on the giant’s great hulking body, which also included series of reddish-brown bands that wrapped around his beefy arms. His head held a massive helmet of equal color, only permitting slits for his eyes and mouth to be open. Piotr Rasputin already knew whom the man standing before him was.

Every since his first day of becoming an X-Men, Peter had made sure to study as many of the hostile mutant files that Cerebro had available. There even was a special exception made for this human, the unfortunate Professor’s stepbrother who always seemed to be on the wrong side of the law. The young Russian didn’t have time to falter now, not when he was pitted against the Juggernaut.

OoOoOo

“Colossus!” Cyclops shouted as he watched the youngest member of the X-Men fall over the railing. The next few moments after his descent were quickly followed by the thunderous sounds of devastation and mayhem from below. Whatever was happening down there, those two didn’t waste anytime.

The determined leader quickly turned back to the remaining X-Men members. “Storm, Jean, we have to get down there fast!” the leader instructed, the two women merely nodding grimly at the sudden turn of events. The Juggernaut wasn’t a foe any of them could take lightly. So busy were the three occupied with their young team member’s fate that they didn’t happen to notice the slender stalking figure prowling around on the ceiling above them.

Cyclops’ boyish jaw was set in firm determination; his mind was already formulating a plan of attack when… Suddenly a sharp sound of something cracking snapped above them as a thin vine or tentacle type thing snaked out snatching the X-Men leader’s visor from off his head and flinging it away somewhere.

“No!!!” Cyclops shouted. The action came so abrupt, so fast, that all he could do was turn his head skyward in the last second before the crimson riptide from his eyes poured out. The red blast instantly punched a hole through the ceiling, before the man was able to shut his eyes, cutting off the beam.

“Scott/Cyclops!” the two women cried. Jean hurried to her lover’s side while Storm continued to scan the area above. Then in the next instance a slender form descended right in the midst of the three. His long legs whipped out in a surprise split kick that caught Jean square in the gut; wrenching the wind from her. Ororo, who managed to catch a hint of motion in the last possible moment, was able to pivot to side taking only a glancing blow.

The figure in between the two women, grinned a putrid gnarled-toothed grin. He then sprung backwards from the palms of his hands, landing perfectly on his feet. “Ladies, ladies, ladies…” the figure hissed delightfully to the pair of fallen women, not to mention take an additional moment to admire their curves. The next moment the man opened his mouth and a long black tentacle-like tongue slithered out. It curled around his lime-tinted face, brushing back a few strands of its oily unkempt dark hair in a vain attempt at grooming. “It always is a pleasure,” he concluded with a sharp bow.

He then promptly pivoted his body to the side, which was very fortunate for him because a harsh wave of crimson energy just came within a hairbreadth of sending him to oblivion. The dingy figure, who reeked of an unkempt toilet might I add, sighed dismissively then sprang on its long legs into the air. The tails of the long dark trench coat he wore, which looked as though it was just fished from a dumpster, fluttered around him as he moved. He spiraled once coiling his body before dropping his entire weight onto Cyclops’ shoulders instantly flooring the X-Men leader.

Scott Summers was boarding on the line between pain and obliviousness. The lone figure looked down at the famed leader discontentedly, “Come on, you people aren’t making this even challenging…” he uttered, before a full two thousand watt jolt of electricity knocked him off of his feet.

Rippling currents of white lightning ripped and coursed around the African weather witch, Storm’s body. Her bright white eyes burned with contempt, “Perish the thought Toad,” she muttered, her arms then reached for the heavens a course of air lifting her up. “Perhaps a blast of artic wind will chill your tongue,” the Windrider suggested and already he could feel the temperature in the room dropping tremendously.

A chilling gale of wind whirled and whipped all around her, blowing past the former goddess smacking into the amphibian mutant, instantly coating his body in a sheet of frost. A secondary gust stronger than the first, smashed into Toad throwing him up against a nearby wall. Storm kept the bombarding tempest of wind on him, as tiny blades of icicles started to crystallize all around his body, holding him in place. “I’ll say this only once,” her soft velvet voice had a deadly serious edge, “Where is Magneto?”

Suddenly an eruption from above broke her concentration. The colossal reverberations broke apart tons of steel and glass shards that came down, hurtling towards Ororo. “STORM!” a voice cried, then the all the metal and debris looked as if it was held suspended in the air by invisible strings. Storm looked over her shoulder to see Jean finally returned to her feet. Her face was in pained concentration while she used her telekinesis to hold the monumental amount of wreckage at bay. The Psychic then drew in deep within her self and grunted with all her might, casting every piece of debris aside. Jean grinned briefly before stumbling on her feet; the act of such great exertion winded her temporarily.

Toad, who used the momentary distraction to wiggle and break his way free of the ice, burst from off the wall. He hurtled towards the weaken Jean, both his feet flying for a devastating dropkick. An act which would have occurred, if a blazing red beam didn’t cut through the air slamming into his chest, sending his limber form barreling off somewhere to kiss blissful oblivion.

Cyclops who finally retrieved his visor, quickly jogged over to the two women. “You two ok?” he asked, obvious concern etched on his face.

Jean coughed briefly, while rubbing the soreness that still lingered in her chest from that kick, “I’ll live…” she replied evenly.

A gust of wind blew around them as Storm circled above for a moment, before descending right next to the duo. “I am uninjured,” she answered him, “But I’m afraid this is far from being over.”

Just as if on cue, the platform of one of the upper observatories started to shake and rumble. That whole section seemed to blast apart as the reverberations continued to build. Soon the whole room started to tremble, sliding all the contents and equipping to one side. Through the ensuing chaos, one lone figure walked through the platform seemingly unaffected by the turbulent eruptions.

Jean sighed dismally, “Speak of the devil…” she muttered while her other team members started to get ready for this latest threat.

OoOoOo
Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters
Westchester, New York
Lunchtime…

“Hey guys…” Bobby greeted as he and John spotted the female trio of Rogue, Jubilee and Kitty lounging on one of the larger couches. Since Professor Xavier decided to end class for the remainder of the day, the girls opted to spend their lunch together in the video room. It was just a bit of light talking while some of the midday soap operas played in the background, while they ate.

The Drake kid smiled a bit brighter when his eyes fell to the Southern belle, Rogue. They’re current ‘involved’ status was hardly a secret anymore between the rest of the group. Rogue’s cheeks flushed brightly, before she returned with a shy smile of her own. She then joined Bobby in the loveseat across from them.

The small confines of the couch made it absolutely impossible for their hips not to touch. The Southern girl then seized his hand, her gloved fingers interlacing with his own. Bobby winked mischievously to her, before they both returned their attention back to the group. Seeing the two together, made Kitty smile sweetly at her friend’s good fortune and made Jubilee roll her eyes from the excessive sugary overload.

John, suppressing the urge to comment on how much of a pansy his best friend was becoming, instead decided to ask about the one thing that’s been on the lips of every student in the school today, “You guys know why they’re out this time?” he said, while taking a single seated chair.

There was no question of whom he was referring to. The reason why today’s classes were let out early was mainly because a number of the senior teaching staff members were away. Each of them was taking up the mantel that’s been the secret envy of so many of students at the school of Xavier. Being an, X-Men had become a badge of courage and honor to everyone that resided in the mansion. It proved that with determination and hard work, that you too can make a difference in this world.

Kitty and Jubilee both shared a look before the young Asian girl spoke, “Kitty thinks it has something to do with that Magneto guy again,” Jubilee concluded with a loud pop from her gum.

“The dork from the TV?” John asked, never being one without a witty retort on hand.

The two girls nodded.

Rogue brown eyes then lit up as if something just occurred to her. “Is it true he used’tah teach heah?” she inquired. Since the girl was still so very new there was a lot she didn’t know. Unfortunately, from the blank faces that the other four teens shared, it seemed no one had the answer. A wave of silence brewed through the group, as the Mississippi bred girl question was held in the open air.

Bobby Drake’s eyes then went to the young Pryde girl. “Kitty, you’ve been here the longest, don’t you know?”

The brown haired Jewish girl paused as she put some real consideration to the question. She was about to tell him, ‘No’ when she recalled something. “Well…” she paused momentarily in concentration. She then nodded her head, “I think I remember Ororo telling me that he was here when Mr. Summers and Miss Gray first came to the school.”

Scott and Jean both were some of Professor Xavier’s first students. Scott was the first; he arrived at the school when he was thirteen. He had no family and virtually no place to go. A year later it seems that Jean enrolled as well. It was only after a few more years later, when the school finally started to flourish. Besides Ororo joining, there were a number of other mutants that would arrive daily at the school, till it attained its current status.

If this Magneto clown was a teacher back when Scott and Jean were students, then… “Whoa,” Jubilee exclaimed as the young girl put the pieces together, “He must be really, really old then.” Rogue, Bobby and John eyes widened for a brief moment before the three of them all broke out into hard chuckles. John wouldn’t ever admit it openly, but Jubilee diffidently had her brilliant moments.

Rogue was almost into the brink of another giggle fit, when she saw the worried expression on Kitty’s face. “Hey,” the Southern girl said, while drawing the Jewish girl’s attention, “They’ll be okah,” she stated firmly, while giving the girl’s knee a little encouraging squeeze.

“Yeah, Scott’s with them,” Bobby agreed as if that fact alone justified his belief.

John’s interest seemed to be peaked from Bobby’s mentioning of the X-Men leader. “Scott was there, when the Professor first talked to your parents’ right?” the blonde boy asked. As long as he’s known Bobby they never ever really got into the story of how either of them came to the mansion.

“Yeah,” the taller boy nodded, recalling that day three years ago. “It was weird,” Bobby, admitted, “I honestly didn’t want to go,” Drake confessed to them, “I mean I thought this place was for freaks,” boy then frowned, realizing just how bad his words must have sounded, “I knew I could do some weird stuff with ice and I knew that wasn’t normal. But if I left and came to Mutant High it kinda would make it official,” he shook his head again. He didn’t look up till he felt Rogue brush her thumb against his hand. His blue eyes looked up to her’s large brown ones. The boy couldn’t help but smile. “Scott was cool though,” Bobby, continued, “We just stood outside, talking about whatever. He was more interested in the things I liked to do for fun more than what I could do with my powers. After that talk, I felt a lot better about coming,” Drake then grinned, while throwing a slung to John, “What about you? What made you decide to come here?”

“Jean…” John firmly answered without the least bit of hesitation, “Diffidently Jean,” his eyes then flashed to Bobby lecherously, “As soon as I saw her and those hips, I was sold.”

All the girls and Bobby paused. Bobby, who had known John for a good two years now and was well aware of how his friend’s warped mind worked, could do nothing but burst out laughing, while the trio of brown-eyed girls suppressed their own groans from fire starter’s perverted mind.

“Like Ewww…” Jubilee complained while making a face, “Keep it in your pants, John boy.”

John then leaned back in his chair. His arms were crossed behind his head, while he kicked his feet up. “Can’t blame a man for having good taste,” he returned slyly, his blonde eyebrows wiggling suggestively. His eyes then narrowed at her, “It’s not like anyone would come here to see you.”

“As if!” Jubilee shouted while launching to her feet. She then smirked while crossing her arms, “I’m more woman than you could ever hope to handle.”

“More like stomach…” John grumbled, while rolling his eyes. Of course his eyes then widened when he noticed the menacing shadow of Jubilation Lee standing overtop of him. The girl was fuming and looked ready to launch.

Luckily for John, his best friend decided to intervene. “Ok time out you guys,” Bobby declared while sliding in between the pair, “Now both of you go back to your corners.” Which was more like, ‘Jubilee, please sit down, before something explodes.’

While watching her new boyfriend play peacemaker, Rogue’s mischievous brown eyes darted back and forth from Jubilee and John repeatedly. It only took her a few moments before she started to entertain a certain devious idea. “Ye know Bobby, ye might be onta somethin’,” the Mississippi girl stated, while motioning towards Jubilee and John, “Ya’ll two really should go out.”

The declaration was too much for Kitty who outright fell out of her chair and nearly dissolved through the floor from laughing so hard. And Jubilee was, on another rare occasion, speechless. She looked as though all the color was drained from her face. The girl was simply flabbergasted from her former best friend from the south’s words. “Rogue! You-you-you traitor!” she accused with a shaky finger, obviously still in shock.

It was at that point; John burst to his feet and started to make towards the hallway. “I’m gonna play a few dozen games of Madden now,” he stated shakily to no one in particular, the blonde boy then openly shuttered, “Hopefully that will be enough to erase, the horrid memories this conversation has brought.”

Bobby chuckled to himself while also climbing to his feet, “I better go,” he stated, “Gotta, make sure he doesn’t nuke the X-Box or something.” Rogue giggled at the claim. But from what she’s already knew about Johnny, it honestly was most likely a real danger. He and Rogue shared one last look before the boy finally headed after his friend.

Marie sighed contently as her eyes continued to follow her boyfriend before he finally disappeared from sight. The Southern Belle from Mississippi then fell back onto the couch. It was hard keeping a smile from her face. A certain, vivaciousness coursed through her young body, every time she laid eyes on that boy. It was a very new feeling to her, but one she realized she easily could get used to.

Rogue then snatched up the remote, ready to see the rest of her soaps. She cast a look over to Jubilee who still appeared to be in a daze. The poor Asian girl rocked back and forth as she continued to shake her head, all the while muttering, “Unbelievable…Unbelievable…” over and over again.

The Southern girl turned away from her, to look at the other side. Kitty, it seems, was also off in her own little world. Every so often she would laugh and mumble little things to her self. Rogue swore she heard the girl say something about, “What would their kids look like?” then the Jewish girl would break out into hysterics all over again.

Rogue turned away again and smiled. As weird as her life was right now, she honestly wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. The Southern girl then paused thoughtfully for a moment before saying, “Kitty, next time we go out, why dontcha ask Petey tah come wit all us?”

Whatever spell Jubilee was previous under seemed to be broken from the sudden suggestion, “Thank you!!!” the young girl cried, lauding Rogue’s intuitiveness, “I'm glad someone else besides me finally said it!”

“Jubilee shut up!!!”

OoOoOo
PSYCOM Industries
Skies above Annapolis, Maryland
Lower Sanctum
12:01PM…

Victor Creed looked down at the dark corridor. A river of water flowed alongside of him as he stood on the pathway. The sounds of dripping water echoed in the distance as the complex network of pipelines connected and interconnected in front of him, leading him to a virtual dead end. “Shit…” the feral Mutant grumbled to himself. He must have taken a wrong way somewhere.

Creed was hoping to end up back at the helipad. The plan was to take one of the PSYCOM escape pods or even hijack that spiffy Blackbird the X-Men keep priding themselves about. Either way, Creed had enough of the old man’s schemes for one day. Now his only thoughts were getting the fuck out of Dodge. Not to mention he needed some time to reevaluate what the hell was up with the Runt.

Sabertooth took a few more moments to readjust the GPS tracker Mags gave all of them, when he instantly tensed. A low threatening growl suddenly rumbled from behind him. Shit, he didn’t even hear the guy approaching. Creed didn’t need to turn around. He didn’t even need to use his nose. He knew what was behind him. “So…good buddy, looks like ya finally caught me,” tall mutant replied evenly as he wheeled around to face the shorter mutant that was standing in front of the only entrance and exit to the pipe room.

The shorter Mutant that looked like Logan but wasn’t; sat low on his haunches, his thick burly arms was placed evenly at his side. The claws weren’t out, but hell that didn’t make a difference. Vic knew that the runt could summon those hellish things to his side within an instance.

He was wearing a ridiculous yellow and blue outfit that Creed never seen before. The Runt’s head was low and that weird mask he was wearing even added to the menacing effect, burying half his face in shadow. His dark eyes cold and emotionless, they never strayed from Victor’s person for a second.

This was not good.

Victor grinned, “Now, now, I know yer still not sore ‘bout that lil’ Injin broad from Seattle.” The Runt remained silent. Creed continued to eye the crazed mutant. Ever so slightly, he took a few steps every few seconds trying to get a path around the immovable feral. “’ey, that was jus a bit o’ fun. No hard feelin’s an’ all,” Creed stated, all while trying to take an additional step forward.

As soon as he did, the Runt snarled. His lip curled, flashing a razor-sharp incisor to represent its displeasure. Instantly Victor froze. The next moment the blonde mutant blinked then threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Man, they really fucked ya up, didn’t they?” the taller mutant taunted, “So dis is tha extent o’ all their work, huh?” Victor continued, “Tha mighty Wolverine, reduced tah an overgrown mutt,” Creed’s face then cut into a vicious grin, “Fox’s gotta be real proud.”

For some reason hearing him utter that name triggered something deep within the psyche of the Beast. The calm timbre it possessed up to now was shattered. Its mouth dropped open unleashing a bellowing roar that would make a lion cringe. Its hefty hands stabbed down into the ground in front of him. The splintering sound of six blades releasing, pieced the concrete. The Beast then swiped its hands to either side in open challenge.

Which, at this point was fine with Creed, he gotten tired of running anyway, “That’s it, I’m through playin’ wit you runt!” he shouted, while taking a stance. His razor-like black nails extending to their full five-inch length. “Fido,” Sabertooth began, “I thinks someone needs tah finally put ya tah sleep.”


To Be Continued…





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