New Blood III: Triumph of Darkness

New Blood
Chapter 11: Dead Reckoning

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Outside Selene’s Torture Chamber

It had been nearly two hours since Selene began torturing the pawns. They were two hours that felt like an eternity for Emma Frost. As Scott, Jean, and the rest of the pawns were raped and brutalized, Emma sat outside the chambers lost in her own world. She sat with her back against the chamber door, listening to the cries and groans of the other pawns as well as the sadistic taunting by Selene and her minions. She tried to shut it out as she often did whenever she did something she knew was wrong, but that was all but impossible at this point.

It was ironic. She wanted Scott and Jean to suffer for the pain she felt. And now they were suffering in ways that defied description. She could hear Jean groan as men raped her and Scott grunt in pain as Selene’s minions brutalized him. And yet she didn’t feel vindicated. It wasn’t satisfying or fulfilling as she had hoped. It wasn’t like when she watched Shanobi get tortured to death. She had been angry then just as she had been angry after Scott rejected her. But this was different. She had done so much more than just punish those who wronged her.

She kept thinking back to the first time Monet came to her offering to help. She was so angry and heartbroken, but she still knew just from looking that woman in the eye that she was up to no good. She knew and she did it anyways. She didn’t even try to investigate what Monet might be planning. All that mattered to her was vengeance. And because of that, she betrayed the entire Hellfire Club. She betrayed Charles Xavier. But worst of all, she helped Selene.

‘What have I gotten myself into? I can’t believe I actually helped that cold hearted bitch! I can’t believe I…I helped kill Charles! Damn you, Monet! Damn you, Selene! Damn…Damn me.’

Emma’s expression sank as the pained groans from inside the chamber grew louder. It wouldn’t be long now. After the men and women got tired of raping their victims, Selene would begin the real torture. She would start cutting up, mutilating, and burning her victims. It was the most grotesque and painful part of Selene’s torture. It was also one of the parts she enjoyed the most. The more screams she heard the more she hated herself.

All this was done in the name of vengeance. But this wasn’t vengeance. This wasn’t punishment either. This was Selene and her followers seizing power and taking control over everything Charles Xavier built. This went beyond what happened between her and Scott. This was something so much bigger and she was a part of it now. Like it or not, she helped make this possible. She was responsible for the suffering of the others and the loss of the Black King. And she hated herself for it.

“I’m a monster,” she said to herself, “I’m worse than Selene. Now what am I going to do? How the hell can I ever hope to fix this?”

It was a daunting question to her. And as she listened to pained cries of the others, it loomed over her more heavily. She couldn’t just sit out here forever. She had to do something. Sooner or later she would have to make a choice. She could either go along with the woman she hated most or she could resist. They were both difficult choices, but she would have to make one soon. Scott, Jean, and the others wouldn’t last much longer.

Outside Hellfire Manor

The black unmarked van pulled up to an open space along the curb just outside the gates of Hellfire Manor. Inside, Charles Xavier and his remaining allies looked out through the dreary evening conditions at the daunting task before them. They had succeeded in making Selene believe they were dead. They pulled off an elaborate ruse with the help of young Danielle Moonstar and her illusion casting powers. But deceiving Selene was just the first challenge. Now they had to free the other pawns and there was no doubt that the Black Queen wouldn’t make it easy for them.

“So how we lookin’, boss? How rough is this gonna be?” asked Remy as he tried to see through the rainy shroud.”

“As rough as anyone dealing with Selene would,” said Charles Xavier as he clutched his temples and psychically scanned the Manor, “I cannot sense what is inside. Selene had deployed all our psychic shielding to keep any other telepaths out. Outside she has deployed nearly every one of her elite guards. They are patrolling every inch of the estate.”

“What about the security system?” asked Ororo as she surveyed the area with her keen thieving senses.

“Near as I can tell, she’s deployed it on high alert. That means if it senses the slightest hint of an intruder, every room and floor will be locked down and the other pawns will have no hope of escape.”

“Not just that, she’s probably shut down all network connections going in and out of the building,” added Moria, “So even if we did have control over other Hellfire branches, we wouldn’t be able to contact them for their assistance or access additional resources.”

“Not that it matters anyways. All our assets are frozen and every Hellfire subsidy is now under Selene’s control,” muttered Rahne distastefully, “As soon as the Black King was declared dead, it automatically defaulted to the Black Queen as laid out in Hellfire Club bylaws.”

“Dang, who thought up that rule?” said the Cajun, “Remy’s hopin’ there’s some good news in all this.”

“There is,” said Xavier firmly, “First, we have the element of surprise. Knowing Selene, she’s probably preoccupied tormenting the other pawns. She has no idea we’re still alive and is too focused on her sadistic goals to think otherwise.”

“What kind of torment are we talking about here?” asked Danielle warily, “Will the others be okay?”

Xavier expression hardened. He knew better than anybody the kind of torture Selene was capable of. There was no doubt she was inflicting that torment on his pawns now. And if they were to have any hope of saving them they had to act fast.

“I’d rather not go into detail,” said the Black King, “But I’m certain they’re all still alive.”

“How can you be sure of that?” asked Remy.

“Because it hasn’t been long enough. She’s probably still having them raped and humiliated. It’s her way of breaking down the spirit before she gets to the really brutal parts. She likes to drag it out, keeping her victims alive until the last possible moment,” he answered in a dark tone.

Remy fell silent. Even for someone who grew up in a criminal environment, that kind of sadism was disturbing. He knew this woman was dark. But if this is what she was capable of then she was more than dark. She was downright evil.

“Damn, that’ll ruin your weekend,” commented Deadpool, “So what’s the plan for getting in? I hope we’re not going to pose as Jehovah Witnesses, ring the bell, and ask if they’ve found Jesus. Because I left that outfit home and I do NOT look good in a suit.”

“Not this time, Wade,” said Xavier with a humored grin, “I managed to plan this far ahead to anticipate Selene’s betrayal. I am just as capable of planning a countermove against her. Sage, would you please?”

“Already on it,” said Sage.

A special compartment opened and Sage took out a laptop she had stashed away just for this occasion. Upon opening it she brought up a special program interface and sat it in the middle so the others could see what she had done and how it was going to help them pull this off.

“About a year ago, I began going through all of the Hellfire Club’s backup servers and security programs making standard upgrades,” Sage explained, “But in those upgrades, I snuck in a small program in certain areas that contains a mutating algorithm that randomly opens and closes specific indexes of code in the system that I can access at only through specific portals at specific times.”

“Uh…could you explain that again in Farsi?” asked Deadpool.

“You don’t speak Farsi,” said Ororo in a bemused tone.

“I don’t speak technoese either,” he shrugged, “You mind simplifying it for those of us who don’t have a computer for a brain, babe?”

“In simplest terms, I created a back door into the network that Selene doesn’t know about,” explained Sage as she continued typing.

“There, now wasn’t that easier?” said Deadpool.

Sage ignored his obnoxious comments and continued by bringing up a detailed image of the Manor and the network capacity of its systems.

“At our present location, I can access some of the systems remotely. I can hit the main power relays, the perimeter systems, and even a few locks. However, in order to shut down the main security system and execute the primary failsafe we installed for Selene’s takeover, I need to get inside and access the mainframe.”

“Let Remy guess. The mainframe is in the heart of the manor and locked up tighter than croc’s jaw,” said Remy.

“Correct,” affirmed Sage, “But unfortunately, it is the only way. So long as that system is up and Selene has control over it, getting the other pawns out will be next to impossible.”

It was pretty limited option, but with Selene there were few windows and even fewer opportunities. They didn’t have the luxury of attacking directly with overwhelming force. They had to be subtle and rely on their cunning.

“So how do we get inside?” asked Rahne, “And how do we get to the pawns?”

“That, my dear, I have already taken care of,” said Xavier confidently.

Sage then brought up a layout of the outside perimeter of Hellfire Manor. She zoomed in on a couple of ordinary looking spots. Then she brought up a few small, but shrouded images.

“In order go get inside we’ll use a secret underground train tunnel leading from the manor to X-Industrial. The previous Black King, Sebastian Shaw, had it put in as an emergency escape route. And he made sure nobody knew about it, not even Selene.”

“So how do you know about it?” joked Remy.

“I have my ways,” said Xavier vaguely and leaving it at that, “The tunnel has numerous access points in and out of the Manor. The one we’ll have to use is in the back near the main fountain, which means we’ll have to slip past Selene’s security sentries.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard in this weather,” said Ororo, “What about the perimeter alarms? Can those be shut off remotely?”

“Unfortunately they can’t, but that’s where you’ll come in, Danielle,” said Xavier, “I know you’re still tired from earlier. But we’ll need you again for this.”

Danielle, who had been unexpectedly thrust into this secret affair from the beginning, had a lot riding on her. She didn’t have the experience or authority that Xavier, Moria, Rhane, Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool had. She was still a young pawn who had only been with the Hellfire Club a year. And already she was being relied on to save it. But the Black King put a lot of faith in her from the beginning. She wasn’t about to let him down.

“I can manage,” she said, “But I won’t be able to create illusions to the extent I did before. I’ll only be able to make them localized and concentrated.”

“We understand, lass. But we’ll make due,” said Moria with a reassuring smile.

“We’ll have to. You don’t get many opportunities when it comes to Selene,” continued Xavier, “Once we’re inside, we’ll split up. Remy, Ororo, and Rahne will follow me to Selene’s chambers. Our job will be to rescue the pawns. Deadpool and Danielle will follow Sage. Your task will be security. You’ll have to work fast because we’ll need all the help we can get in order to get to the others.”

“Hey, you know me, Chucky boy! I get the job done fast and efficiently with the standard Deadpool guarantee! Please note guarantee does not apply to the bedroom or any sexual situations and other related tasks are subject to evaluation. If you wish to contest any matters relating to or pertaining…”

But before Deadpool could continue on his obnoxious disclaimer, Xavier cut him off.

“That’ll be quite alright, Wade,” he said in an annoyed tone, “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Fine, just giving the fine print. Don’t tell me you all don’t give disclaimers to the crazy shit you guys do! It’s the American way!” he shrugged.

That earned him the look from the entire van. But he shrugged it off. If they didn’t know by now that he had a few screws loose they were crazy themselves.

The planned seemed sound. They had a way in and a plan to get the pawns out. It was still a daunting task. They were going up against the Black Queen, a woman they knew first hand how dangerous she was. One slip up and it could all come crashing down.

“What about me, Charles? What do ye need me to do?” asked Moria.

Xavier then reached into his pocket and pulled out a special keycard he kept with him at all times. He then took Moria’s hand and put the car in it. Then he looked at he held them firmly, looking at her with the trust and affection that had grown so strong over the years. It was the kind of look he always gave her before he told her something she didn’t want to hear.

“Once we’re in the tunnel, I need you to go in the other direction,” he told her, “Follow the track to X-Industrial. It should lead you into a secure area in the basement. Once in that area, use this card to access a secure terminal to activate one of the Hellfire jets. We’ll need it for our escape.”

“But I thought ye said all of Hellfire’s assets reverted to Selene when we were all officially declared dead? Doesn’t that include X-Industrial?”

“It does. That is why this is dangerous. I’m not sure if Selene has uncovered any of the fail-safes I put into place. She may have her guards waiting for you on the other end. But you’ll have to trust in the precautions I’ve taken.”

It was an unsettling feeling, going into this all by herself without support from Charles or the others. She didn’t have mutant powers so she couldn’t hold her own as much. Her only defense was the trust she had in Charles and against Selene that would have to do.

“I trust ye, Charles. I always have,” she told him, “But not come with me? Why not leave the fighting to those best equipped for it?”

Xavier’s expression shifted to one of anger. He was usually very controlled about his emotions. But under circumstances like these, he wasn’t afraid to let them show.

“I’m sorry, Moria, but I have to do this. Selene didn’t just betray me. She betrayed the Hellfire Club. Everything I’ve worked for and everything I’ve built is at stake. I’ll be the first to admit I was foolish to allow Selene’s reign to continue this long, but we have a chance to stop her here once and for all! She must pay for her crimes against the Hellfire Club. And I’ll see to it personally she suffers for this.”

He spoke with the kind of grit and determination that made him such a good Black King. This wasn’t just about taking back what was rightfully his. This was a personal vendetta between him and Selene. And Moria could tell from the look in his eyes that he was going to make this woman suffer. She wanted this too and for that reason she had to do her part.

“Just promise me one thing, Charles,” she told him.

“Of course, anything,” said Xavier.

“When you see her…shoot her in the face.”

The Black King grinned.

“Consider it done,” he told her.

“Alright!” said Deadpool in his typical over-the-top manner, “Let’s do this! They’re doing down! They’re going down to Chinatown with a frown in a puddle of brown with a clown! They’re gonna regret the day they came to play! They’re gonna…”

“We get it, Deadpool! Stop trying to make a poem out of it!” groaned Rahne.

“Hey, just trying to get us fired up, that’s all!” grinned the merc with a mouth.

“Save it for another time,” said Ororo as she looked out into the dreary night, “I have a feeling we’re going to need to conserve our energy. It’s going to be a long night.”

“It already has been,” mused Danielle, “I hope we’re not too late.”

“Try not to be thinking about that, Dani,” said Rahne strongly, “Just think about how you’re going to make that bitch, Selene, pay for her crimes!”

“It’s just like Remy’s perè always said, ‘good crimes can go unpunished, but bad criminals always fail in the end,’” said Remy as he pocketed a few extra deck of cards.

“Well said, Remy. Let’s see to it that holds true for Selene,” said Xavier as he gathered the rest of their things, “You all have your jobs. Let’s get to the pawns and stop Selene. She’ll regret the day she turned her back on the Hellfire Club.”

The Black King then opened the glove box and took out a high powered plasma rifle. Even though he was the world’s most powerful psychic, he would still need a weapon if he was to hold his own against Selene’s forces. He also tossed one to Moria, who would need one just in case. Once they were armed and Sage closed her laptop, they gathered the rest of their things and exited the van.

The plan was officially in motion. As it stood Charles Xavier, Moria MacTaggart, Remy Lebeau, Ororo Munroe, Wade Wilson, Danielle Moonstar, Rahne Sinclair, and Sage were the only ones who could stop Selene. That woman had gone too far. She betrayed the Hellfire Club and was now probably torturing the other pawns. Her transgressions could not stand. She was going to pay for her crimes and it was going to start now.

Selene’s Torture Chamber

It had been two hours of hell for the pawns of the Hellfire Club. In many ways it was worse than hell. Being in a room alone with Selene and her followers, whom she had corrupted beyond repair, made hell look like an escape. She wasn’t torturing them for punishment, retribution, or power. She was just torturing them because she wanted to and she got a sick thrill out of making people suffer.

For Scott, Jean, Piotr, Rogue, Warpath, Pietro, Logan, Mystique, Bobby, Jubilee, Kitty, Sam, Lorna, Laura, and Julian it was one long blur of pain and suffering. For nearly two hours, Selene and her minions focused on rape. Over and over, she had the men rape the women and the woman rape the men. Most of it was done by her masked elite guards, some of which were male and some of which were female. They were like drones, ravaging and dominating them reckless abandon. They were all very rough as well. The women endured forceful, fervent raping and the men endured violent, ravenous attacks from the women that left them scratched and bruised. The whole time their bodies were kept in a constant state of arousal. A powerful spell loomed over them, keeping their bodies going and holding their powers back. Another spell made it so whatever pleasure they would have felt was turned into pain. And given the potency of Selene’s power, it was sheer agony.

When Selene’s elite guards weren’t raping and ravaging the pawns, her loyal minions were enjoying themselves. Wanda, Alex, Tabitha, Kurt, Warren, Betsy, Monet, and Roberto all took turns raping and tormenting different pawns. Alex focused much of his time on Scott, raping Jean repeatedly in front of him. But at times he also ordered some of the female guards to get rough with him by biting, scratching, or just riding him harder. He also gave some other pawns his attention. He raped Kitty and Jubilee, two pawns who gained status faster than him and he made sure they remembered how he didn’t take kindly to their success. Roberto was similar. He double teamed Kitty with Alex, fucking her ass while Alex took her pussy. He also ravaged Rogue for a while, who he always sort of resented for having strength greater than his.

Warren continued to ravage the other pawns with Betsy by his side. He showed many of his bondage and sadomasochistic tastes and shared them with Betsy. He tied up Rogue and gagged her while Betsy did the same to Scott. Then he started whipping her with a studded whip for a couple dozen rounds and then grabbed held her down and fucked her. Betsy did the same with Scott, striking him with a whip and then making him fuck her until she climaxed. They moved onto others such as Mystique and Pietro, getting rougher and more creative as they went along.

But Warren and Betsy weren’t the only ones showing such tastes. Tabitha was also being creative in how she raped and tormented her victims. She would drop little energy bombs on their chests as she rode them and watch them wince when they exploded. She timed it so she would climax just as they exploded, adding an extra thrill to it. She did this to Julian, Pietro and Piotr. She even did this to some of the women such as Kitty, Jean, and Lorna, forcing them to eat her pussy out while she tormented them. And each time she made the bursts more intense to cause more of a bruise. Not to be outdone, Monet showed off some of her own skills by using blindfolds and gags. Her tactic was to take a man, ride him nice and hard and use her telepathy to force other victims to rape each other. While she rode Logan she had Bobby rape Laura. Then she rode Warpath and had Sam rape Rogue. She loved being in control and she relished in this power she never thought she could have.

Wanda showed a particular propensity for cruelty and had Kurt help her every step of the way. And like the obedient lover he was, he didn’t say a word and did as she asked. She focused on certain pairs of pawns who she knew were close. She would then ride the man while Kurt raped the woman, using her hex bolts to shock and cause more pain to the victims in a way that they shared it. She did this with Scott and Jean, Julian and Laura, and Kitty and Piotr. Each time she got them to cry out in pain together. It was especially satisfying, yet Kurt continued to show no emotion either way. But that was okay with her so long as he kept doing as she told him.

Going along with Wanda as well was her father, Magneto. Only he was still dazed by Selene’s spell. So she used him with Kurt to double team the women. They each took turns fucking them one way and then switched up when they took on someone else. They mindlessly obeyed her. Magneto’s expression continued to show signs of struggle and strife, but a part of him clearly enjoyed the feeling. It was a sign that the darkness was starting to take hold of him as well.

Sabretooth was a different case. He didn’t do anything fancy or elaborate. He just growled sadistically as he fucked every woman he could. But he always made sure he took the time to focus on Logan. He spent quite a bit of time raping Mystique, given his history with her. He also took Laura, pinned her down next to him, and anally raped her while taunting him mercilessly. Once he was done with her he went over and got Jean and did the same, laying her down and fucking her long and hard. He also brought over Rogue, Kitty, and Jubilee. Every time he finished with one, he would give Logan a firm punch in the gut. It was an extra taunt in addition to raping the women he cared about. He loved every minute of it and laughed it up.

The only one who seemed to enjoy it more than Sabretooth was Selene. She was the loudest and most commanding voice in the room. She directed her minions and her elite guards to carry out more acts of deviance and torment. She also took the time to ravage each pawn, both male and female. For the men, she would force them on their backs and ride them while casting a spell that held built up their climax and released it only when she wanted. It made the torment extra painful. For the women she forced them to get on their hands and knees and eat her pussy out. While they did this she took a large, crystal dildo with mystical properties and forced it into their inner depths. Then with a special spell, she made it work in and out of their insides until she got her climax and they got theirs. And when it hit she made sure got the most pleasure while her victims got the most pain.

“YES! YES! YEEEEESSSSSSSSS! FEEL THE PAIN! FEEL THE WRATH OF DARKNESS AS YOU SUFFER!” she exclaimed with sadistic bliss.

The pained groans of each pawn echoed through the chamber. As hardened and tough as they were from their Hellfire training, even they had their limits. And they were getting painfully close.

After another thorough round of group rape, Selene and her minions took a break from it and switched things up a bit. While they got a breather, the pawns continued to suffer. Selene instructed her elite guards to chain them up again so they were hanging from the ceiling by their wrists. Then she passed out whips to her minions and guards and they all got behind and started whipping them with mercilessly. Alex whipped Scott, Wanda whipped Pietro, Tabitha whipped Sam, Kurt whipped Rogue, Warren whipped Jean, Betsy whipped Warpath, Monet whipped Julian, and Roberto whipped Kitty. Masked guards whipped Piotr, Bobby, Jubilee, Laura, Lorna, and Mystique. Sabretooth also got into the action, but he didn’t use a whip. He just started beating up on Logan with his bear hands. These whips were not deigned to leave marks. They still weren’t sure if they wanted to enjoy them for one last round of rape, but it was still plenty painful for them.

“That’s it, my minions! Whip them! Strike them! Make them feel more pain!” demanded Selene, who remained in the center admiring it all with the dazed Magneto standing by her.

THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!

These were the sickening sounds that echoed through the room as hard leather made contact with tender flesh.

“Augh! Ahh! Ahhhhhhhh!” Jean cried out, who was one of the few still struggling.

“Oh shut up already and take it!” grunted Warren as he whipped her again.

Jean’s expression continued to contort in strange ways. Selene found it a bit odd, if not a little disconcerting. But she was enjoying this too much to care. The only one who wasn’t getting whipped was Logan. And while she didn’t like the change in pace, she didn’t mind Sabretooth’s approach either of just beating his enemy with his bear hands.

“Ha! How does THAT feel! How does it fucking feel!” howled Sabretooth each time he punched and slashed Logan’s bruised and battered body.

“Ack! Augh!” grunted Logan, coughing up blood and choking on bile with each blow.

“What’s that?! You want more, old buddy?! Ha! I could do this all night! You’ve had this comin’ a LONG time!”

“Fuck…you,” panted Logan through the pain.

That only infuriated Sabretooth more as he continued to beat Logan with all his might. Without his healing factor, he was getting bruised and bloodied in ways that he had never been before. Sabretooth loved it, being able to hurt him in ways he couldn’t recover from. It was exhilarating. It was fulfilling. It was the vengeance he always craved.

Logan was nearing the edge of his limits and so were the others. Selene sensed the pawns starting to break down. They were getting close to that fragile threshold where they wouldn’t be able to hang on anymore. But before that she had other plans to further spice it up.

“Alex! Wanda! Give your whips to a guard and come here,” she ordered.

“Is it that time already?” said Alex with a look of intent.

“Not quite. It’s that other ‘matter’ we discussed,” she said coyly.

Alex and Wanda grinned in anticipation. They then handed their whips to a nearby guard and let them continue whipping their victims. Then they walked over to Laura and Lorna, each of who were being whipped by guards. They waved the guards off and undid their chains. Their bodies then fell limply to the floor. Wanda then levitated them with her hexing powers and dragged them off towards the west end of the chamber where there was a single black door. They were too out of it to know what was going on, but some did notice.

“Laura…” said Julian as he looked over with concern.

“Shut up!” commanded Monet as she whipped him into submission, “She should be the least of your worries.”

Julian’s expression tensed as more pain followed. But he wasn’t the only one who noticed. Logan, who was being held by the throat by Sabretooth, was able to see out of his unswollen eye what that they were dragging Laura off.

“Where…where are you pricks taking her?!” he demanded.

Sabretooth responded by slugging him in the face.

“No more talking unless you’re begging for mercy!” growled Sabretooth as he continued his assault.

As Lorna and Laura were carried off, Lorna was still coherent enough to look back at her bound comrades. She focused on Pietro, who was still being whipped by a guard. There was a desperate plea in her eyes. It was as if she was telling him to save her. When he saw this he grit is teeth and grunted as he struggled even more. But he remained bound and powerless.

“Lorna…no,” he grunted.

As Pietro, Logan, Julian and the others continued to suffer, Wanda and Alex followed Selene into the room. Behind them, Wanda floated the two limp bodies of Lorna and Laura inside. Once they were in they closed the door. The room was small and confined, containing only a couple of wooden tables that had restrains for wrists and legs. It was where Selene did torture with a more personal touch. But she had other things in mind for these two.

“Place them on the tables,” Selene ordered.

Wanda did as she was told, floating Lorna and Laura onto the tables and laying them out. From there Selene and Alex secured the restraints on their wrists and ankles. Alex then hovered over Lorna, affectionately tracing his hand down her face while Selene and Wanda hovered over Laura. They were both still out of it. Their bodies were sweaty and worn out. Fluids from the rapes dripped off them in a sickening display. For a moment they were allowed to collect themselves, getting over the pain and discomfort over what just happened to them.

“Thank you for doing this, Mistress Selene,” said Alex gratefully as he loomed over Lorna, “I wish we could have spared her the initial torment, I understand why it had to be done.”

“Of course you do,” grinned the Black Queen, “But I am not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. Believe me, I haven’t done any of that in a long time. I’m doing this because I might just get some use out of these two with the next part of my plan.”

Selene then turned to Wanda and nodded. Understanding what she was implying, Wanda walked over to an area behind the tables where an unmarked black box had been set up for just this moment. From that box, Wanda took out two objects. One was a small vile of glowing green fluid and the other was brilliant crystal array that resembled a pink rose. She gave the green vile to Selene and the pink rose to Alex.

For the two women, who were still reeling, it was a strange and confusing moment. They could still hear the pained cries of the others in the other room, but for some reason they were being spared. It didn’t make any sense.

“What…what are you doing to us?” said Lorna weakly.

Selene stood between both tables and grinned.

“Consider yourselves lucky. Your torment is over for now. For the two of you, I have other plans,” said the Black Queen, “You see, I’m not out to kill off the old order and take over the Hellfire Club. I have far greater plans than that. And the two of you are going to help me.”

“Fat…chance,” grunted Laura in defiance, “I’ll never help you! I’d rather be tortured to death!”

“Who says you have a choice?” said Selene as she held up the vial, “You, little X-23, were created to be a tool, not a human being. I always found that side to you a little intriguing. So I made a few calls and found out how they were able to control you. I’m sure you remember that special trigger scent…you know, the one they used to make you kill your mother?”

Laura’s expression tensed at the mention of that terrible memory. She hoped she had seen the last of that scent. It was responsible for so much of her pain. But when she saw the fluid in that vial she knew what it was.

“I had my people get the last sample of it. Then I had Sinister tweak it a bit. Now, with one little injection, I’ll get what your creators failed to obtain. You’re will, your humanity, and your emotions were be shut down. You’ll have the mind of an obedient dog. And I’ll see to it that I am your master!”

Wanda then handed her a syringe, which she had stashed in the box as well. When Laura saw this she went into a fury. She growled and roared in defiance, trying to fight off the paralysis. She managed to move her body a bit, but nowhere near enough to break free from her bonds. Before her mother died, she told her how she never wanted her to be somebody’s weapon again. Now Selene was taking that from her, the last vestige of control she had.

Once the syringe was filled she held it up and loomed over Laura.

“You’ll make a good pet,” she taunted, “Your skills will prove useful in my plans. I may even give you the honor of executing some of your fellow pawns. Maybe I’ll start with that boy you seem to like, Julian.”

“Hrraahhhhhhhh!” she roared in a rage.

“Complain all you want. You belong to me now…X-23.”

She then roughly jammed the syringe into her right arm and injected every last drop of the mixture. As soon as Laura felt it in her veins, her world began to fade. It was as if something was reaching inside her and shutting down all her higher functions. It was a cold, harsh feeling and she tried to fight it.

“Augh! Arugh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” she cried out.

She continued growling and groaning, thrashing about on the table. But it was no use. Her resistance quickly waned. All her memories and perceptions began to fade. One by one, her world around her crumbled. Her will to resist, fight, and even think was being overrun. But before it all slipped away she saw one last image in her mind. It was an image of her mother and of Logan, the two people who helped her break free. And with them was Julian, the one person she managed to get close to. As soon as that image faded, there was nothing. The girl known as Laura was no more. All that was left was X-23.

“Undo her restraints,” ordered Selene.

Wanda complied with the request and used her hex bolts to undo them. Laura remained still even after they were loose. The look on her face remained blank and emotionless, just as Selene had hoped. She then undid the paralysis spell so she could move again and removed the spell holding her powers back.

“Get up and stand before me,” she ordered.

Laura did as she asked and got up off the table. In the process she noticed her healing factor going to work. The bruises and marks left from her torture started to fade. Soon they were all gone and she didn’t have a scratch on her. She looked poised to be a loyal minion.

“Now bow to me,” the Black Queen ordered.

Laura did as she said.

“I am now your master. You will do what I tell you. Understand?”

Former weapon X-23 nodded.

“Say it,” Selene commanded, “Say I’m your master!”

“You’re my master,” said Laura in a mechanical tone, “I will do as you wish.”

The Black Queen grinned in approval. It was just as she had hoped. She had a loyal, obedient pet for her to use as she pleased. She should prove useful in her coming plans. She might also give a nice little toy for her male minions to play with on their downtime.

With Laura now under her control, Selene turned towards Lorna. She saw what happened with Laura and was visibly disturbed. The whole time Alex had been protectively looming over her, caressing her face. Compared to the others she didn’t have nearly as many bruises or scratches as the others. This was intentional for a number of reasons, many of which were important to Alex.

“That’s one down. Now it’s your turn, Lorna,” said Selene.

“What…what are you going to do to me? And why?” she asked.

“Don’t question it, Lorna,” said Wanda harshly, “You’re very lucky to avoid the fate that awaits the others. You can thank Alex here for that. He’s the one that made the request. I just supported it.”

Lorna looked up at Alex, who had a strange look of affection in his eyes. It was unusual considering how dark those eyes had been since this started. But it was definitely there.

“It’s true, Lorna. I was the one that suggested we bring you in,” he said softly, “I couldn’t allow you to suffer such a cruel fate with the others.”

“How…how can you say that?” she gasped with a grit of anger, “After what you and the others just did to me?!”

“I’m sorry, but that was not my decision. I didn’t want that for you. But it doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that you’re here. You’re here because I want to continue this with you by my side.”

Alex then walked over and took her hand and held it in his, holding it with the affection he used to before Selene got to him.

“I’m sorry I never told you, but since I arrived here you’ve always been special to me,” he said softly, “You understand what it’s like to be distant with family and you understand what it’s like to come up in an unjust world. Even after I embraced the darkness, my feelings for you remain. And I want us to be together.”

They were words she always wished she would hear from Alex, but not like this. There was so much darkness in his eyes behind the affection. She almost cried at the conflict she now faced. She had feelings for this man as well, but now they had been corrupted by darkness.

“I’m sorry, Alex. But…I can’t be with someone like you…someone who sold his soul to darkness!” said Lorna harshly.

But Alex was not phased.

“I understand,” he said, “But no worries. We can still be together. We can still share love in a world of darkness.”

He then held out the crystal rose. For a moment she gazed into it. Then Selene raised her hand and cast a spell. Suddenly, it started glowing in a bright, pinkish aura.

“I know you had feelings for me before,” he told her, “We can bring those feelings out again. We can make it so nothing else in the world matters. All you’ll be concerned with is our love. You’ll do whatever it takes to preserve it.”

“I…I’ll be your slave,” she lamented.

“No…not a slave,” said Alex as he affectionately stroked her face, “A companion bound by the bonds of darkness. Look at it this way…the others will not live long enough to see a world consumed by darkness. But you and I will. And we’ll share in it together.”

“No…I won’t!” she struggled.

“Yes you do,” said Alex, “You say you don’t, but I don’t believe you. I believe you want this. And I’m just doing what’s best for you.”

“No…no!” she cried, struggling even more.

Alex then turned towards Wanda, who had been smiling the whole time. She had done this before, using love to gain control of someone. She did it with Kurt to make him her little minion of darkness. Alex saw this and he wanted it for him and Lorna. And for her half-sister, who she resented for taking on her roles with Pietro, she could think of no better punishment than to make her a slave to them for eternity.

“Sorry dear sister. But you heard the man. Your fate has been decided,” said Wanda.

Holding up her hand, Wanda chanted the necessary phrases to cast the spell. Her hand then started glowing the same color as the rose crystal. The glow soon engulfed Alex and Lorna and Alex’s eyes flashed ominously. Lorna could feel the power overtaking her. She didn’t want to give into it, but she was weakened from the torture and unable to resist.

Guided by the power of the spell, Alex leaned in and kissed her passionately. As soon as his lips touched hers, it happened. The energy surged through her mind, twisting her perceptions and emotions. She groaned in discomfort at first. But soon it all came back to her. Only this time her every thought, feeling, and awareness was different. All her previous concerns were utterly forgotten. Her very capacity to think and reason was changed. All she could think about now was Alex and the love she had for him.

“Alex…” she said softly.

“Yes…I feel it,” said Alex intently, “It worked!”

“Of course it worked,” grinned Selene, “You know what to do.”

Selene cast a spell of her own, removing the paralyzing spell and the one holding back her powers. She also undid the restraints binding her wrists to the table. But even though she was free, her concerns didn’t change. She kept kissing Alex, driven by an insatiable surge of emotion. She was so lost in the feeling, distant and dazed. It was just as Alex had hoped.

Knowing what he had to do now, Alex got up on the table with her and laid down on top of her. With their lips still entwined, he spread her legs and positioned himself over her so his erect member was at her entrance. For a moment he just savored the feeling of having her naked flesh there for him to enjoy. Then with a firm but passionate hold on her, he thrust into her. Lorna let out a sharp gasp. This time it wasn’t of pain or discomfort. With no more spell to torment her it was all pleasure. Her body was still a little sweaty and worn from all the activity she endured earlier, but she still felt so heavenly and Alex savored the feeling.

Holding onto her hips firmly, Alex worked his body up and down hers. His ridged dick slithered in and out of her wet pussy, surrounded in a tight and blissful warmth. Their naked skin glided together seamlessly as pleasured moans soon filled the dingy room. Alex steadily built up the pace, thrusting into her harder and faster and bouncing her body to a fervent rhythm. The darkness within him still seethed and his hold on her was still a bit rough and dominating. But he remained passionate with her, making love to her with all the veracity and fortitude as he could. They kept kissing and touching, their hands running wild all over their naked bodies. Lorna sounded lost in the feeling while Alex’s grunts were laced with intent. They were soon nearing a blissful climax, one that the spell helped amplify to new heights.

“Uh-uh-uh-uh-ohhhhhhh Alex!” cried Lorna in her blissful daze.

“Uh-uh-yes-uh-that’s it, Lorna-uh-oh I feel it-uh-I feel it coming-uh-embrace it with me!” panted Alex in between thrusts.

Their moans intensified as the feeling washed over them. When it finally hit, Alex slowed his thrusts held onto her tightly as he climaxed with her. Her throbbing inner muscles tightened around his member, releasing a load of her feminine fluids that mixed with his cum. The pleasure was intense. It was almost as intense as the feeling Alex got when he tormented the prisoners. And as he looked down at Lorna, the dazed and distant look revealing the extent of the spell, he knew it was official.

“You’re mine now, Lorna,” he whispered to her, “We will share the darkness together!”

Selene and Wanda grinned at the sight. Wanda was especially satisfied to see her half sister now on their side. It would surely torment Pietro even more. But beyond the vindication she felt, it gave them another ally in their plan. Mistress Selene was poised to take the next step towards her ultimate goal. Soon nothing would be able to stop them.

“What now, my mistress?” asked Wanda, “Are we ready to move onto the next step?”

“Almost,” said the Black Queen ominously, “I find myself getting board with the pawns now. We’ll enjoy them for a little bit longer. Then we’ll begin the real torture! They shall be the first to fully taste my wrath, but I assure you they won’t be the last!”

Hellfire Manor – Backyard

Charles Xavier maneuvered carefully along the perimeter of the Manor. Following closely were Ororo, Remy, Deadpool, Rahne, Moria, and Danielle. They were on the outer limits of the Manor’s surveillance system. Once they got in they would be vulnerable. So they had to proceed carefully. All around Hellfire Manor was a large, well defended gate. The front was the most imposing, but along the back were large stone walls that were wedged between two normal-looking skyscrapers. It was higher than in the front and specially rigged with cameras, sensors, and traps to discourage intruders. And like the front there were guards patrolling along the top and edge.

“Danielle, we’ll need your illusions to fool the sensors,” said Xavier, “Storm, we’ll need a little extra cover from Mother Nature.”

“You’ve got it,” said Ororo as her eyes flashed white, “Everybody stand in close. I’m going to get fly us in.”

“Try not to make it too rough,” reminded Danielle, “I need to stay focused to keep my illusions up.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” she assured her.

Danielle cast her illusions while Ororo manipulated the weather around her. She rose into the air on a wave of wind while manipulating the air streams around her to form a dense fog that she directed over the area. Once it was in place she formed another vortex of wind to levitate the others. They all bunched in closely and stayed steady while Ororo lifted them up into the air and over the stone wall.

It was like being lifted up into the middle of a cloud. They could barely see anything, but they could make out the faint outline of the back yard and the guards. From the looks of it no sensors had gone off. They were all still struggling to keep organized in the fog and they heard them trying to coordinate over pocket communicators. While they were distracted, Xavier and Sage scanned the area for the fountain that concealed the entrance to the train. Once they got closer to the ground they were able to locate it.

“There it is,” said Sage, pointing towards the fountain.

“I see it,” said Ororo, “Hold on, I’m taking us down.”

“Just keep that fog up,” said Danielle, who was concentrating hard, “I’m having a hard enough time fooling the sensors. I don’t think I can create more illusions for the guards at this point.”

Ororo nodded and kept the shroud of fog going until they reached the fountain. Once they were on the ground, they carefully made their way to the fountain while staying close. They all kept a close eye on the nearby guards, making sure they didn’t see them through the fog or trip any alarms.

“Man, I feel like Batman,” commented Deadpool, “Hey Storm, any chance you could dress up as Catwoman?”

“Quiet, Deadpool!” growled Rahne, “Save the obnoxious comments for Selene!”

“Just keeping my skills fresh,” grinned the merc with a mouth.

Xavier scanned the base of the fountain with Remy and Moria, looking for the mechanism that would open the secret shaft. He knew Shaw had to have put some inconspicuous button somewhere. He was too practical to make it something obvious like a lever or a limb on a statue. It was always something out of sight that nobody would suspect.

“What exactly is we lookin’ for again?” asked Remy as he felt along the base.

“Anything that looks like some sort of triggering mechanism,” answered Xavier, “I wish I knew what it was, but I killed the only man who knew.”

“Dang, what are the odds?” laughed Remy.

With nothing else to go on they kept feeling around, looking for anything that might look suspicious. Then Moria came across something. One of the marble stones she touched didn’t feel the same as the others. Curious, she looked closer and started feeling around it. It didn’t seem to fit. And when something didn’t fit that usually meant it wasn’t what it seemed. So she pushed on it. That’s when they all heard a strange mechanical clank from inside the fountain.

“Here, I think I found it!” she said.

They all stood back and watched as a section of the grass just below the block was revealed to be hollow. They watched as a narrow sliding door opened up horizontally, revealing a dark and narrow hole with a ladder running along the side.

“Good work, Moria,” said Xavier, “This must be it. Ororo, keep the fog up for a few minutes longer. Danielle, cover us until the door closes.”

“No problem, just don’t do anything to disrupt my concentration,” said Danielle in a focused tone.

“So playing 80s rock with my armpits is out?” asked Deadpool.

“Yes, that would qualify,” said Ororo, “Just keep moving.”

“Oui, my lady. Can’t say no to a girl in skin tight outfits!”

Ignoring Deadpool’s quips, Xavier slipped into the hole and climbed down the ladder. Moria, Rahne, Remy, and Deadpool followed close by. Then Storm climbed in, keeping her fog going so the guards wouldn’t see them. Danielle went last, making sure her advanced illusions kept the sensors and cameras at bay. Once everybody was in the manhole, Danielle closed it and they all climbed down.

The shaft was pretty deep, much deeper than a usual sewer opening. Shaw must have been extra paranoid about someone finding it. It was dark too. Remy had to take out a card and charge it so they would have some light. It was dark, dingy, and a little cramped. For Ororo, that was pretty distressing because of her claustrophobia. But she couldn’t afford to let that stop her now. She just kept her eyes closed and breathed deep.

“You okay, cherè?” asked Remy, noticing her disposition.

“I’m fine,” she said anxiously, “Let’s just get through this place as soon as possible.”

“Just breathe deep,” he told her in a reassuring tone, “We’re almost there.”

His words helped calm her down as they continued to climb down. They descended about sixty feet or so until they reached the floor below. It was still very dark and it was hard to see where they were. Rahne, whose canine mutation gave her better senses, started searching for a light switch.

“Ooh, dark in here. I feel like that psycho in the hockey mask from that movie. Ever see that flick?” said Deadpool.

“Hold on, I think I see a light switch,” said Rahne as she felt around the wall.

She grabbed hold of a heavy lever of sorts and tried to pull it. It was a little rusted so it didn’t go easy. But with a few labored grunts, she managed to activate it. Once it was down an array of old fluorescent lights turned on up ahead, revealing a wider tunnel with train tracks and a long trail running in both directions with darkness at each end. It was obvious this area hadn’t been maintained in at least five years. Many of the lights were flickering and some of the track looked rusted. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just meant nobody else knew about it.

“Wow…” Moria commented, “Shaw was a bastard, but the man knew how to make an escape.”

“Indeed,” said Xavier, “Sage, can you detect any sensors in here?”

Sage activated her watch, which had a built in computer that had some small programs she set up for situations like this. She did a brief scan to look for any signs of surveillance.

“No, it’s clean,” she said.

“Good, then where do we go from here?” asked Ororo.

Sage took out a small piece of paper that she printed out that had on it a layout of the secret tunnel.

“Based on the schematics, this tunnel beings at the bottom of an elevator shaft that’s connected to Shaw’s old room, which would be your room now, Charles.”

“I’m sure Selene will leave that area heavily guarded,” said the Black King, “She’s too paranoid not too.”

“Well the elevator doesn’t lead to anywhere else,” said Sage, “There are no other openings.”

“Then we’ll just have to make one,” said Remy, holding out a charged card, “Where can we get if we blow it open?”

Sage looked at the plans harder, her computerized mind going through each scenario before she reached a logical conclusion.

“Based on where Shaw had this thing installed, blowing a hole in the south side would give us an opening to the third sub-level on the east wing. That’s not far from Selene’s chamber and I should be able to get to the primary hub on the second sub-level from there as well.”

“Great, then what are we waiting for? Let’s start blowing things up!” proclaimed Deadpool, “You want grenades, napalm, or C4? Or how about all three?”

“It’s not that simple, Deadpool,” said Sage in a serious tone, “An explosion of any kind may draw attention. As soon as we’re in the clock will start. Selene may not notice, but the guards will and they’ll be on us.”

“Then we’ll just have to act faster,” said Xavier, holding his weapon firmly.

“So we’re risking it?” said Sage, “With a little time I might be able to scramble the alarms.”

“Time is a luxury we cannot afford right now. Selene could begin executing the pawns at any minute. We’ll have to risk it.”

“Can’t beat the house without takin’ a chance,” commented Remy.

“Exactly,” said Xavier as he activated his weapon.

The Black King then turned to Moria, who had her weapon drawn as well. She remained as stern and hardened as everybody else, even without mutant powers. But for a battle like this she knew she couldn’t participate. She had to leave it to those who could fight and hold their ground better against Selene’s brutal forces.

“This is where we’ll have to part, my dear,” said Xavier.

“I know,” Moria said in a touch of disappointment, “I’ll get us our escape. Just be careful, Charles. I want to make Selene pay as much as you, but I don’t want ye to get caught up in a fight ye can’t win.”

“I know my limits, my dear. I will not let them stop me from doing what I have to do,” said the Black King strongly, “You know me better than anybody. I never fight a battle I know I can’t win.”

“You say that, but ye also know Selene will bait ye,” said Moria, “She fell for our trap. Don’t fall into hers.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

To reinforce his point, he pulled Moria into a kiss. In dire circumstances such as these, it was a lot deeper and a lot more meaningful than usual. They had every intention of seeing each other again, but they knew full well that with Selene nothing was ever certain. Charles and Moria spent many years building this organization together. They had come together, drifted apart, only to come together again. Many conflicting forces came between them, but that was no longer a concern for them. They needed support from one another now more than ever. It was one of their greatest weapons in the fight against Selene.

“Aww,” cooed Deadpool, “You guys are gonna make me cry.”

“And they say you have no sensitive side,” chided Ororo.

“What can I say? I’m a romantic?” he said in an overly dramatic tone, “That reminds me, are you and Remy going to suck face before this goes down too? We all know it’s coming and you might not have another chance.”

Ororo and Remy exchanged awkward glances. They weren’t sure if Deadpool was just being completely obnoxious like he always was or if he was being serious. But seeing Charles and Moria did remind them of just how many things between them had been left unsaid. Ever since they did those jobs for Sinisters and got caught up in this scheme, they never got a chance to sit down and talk about it. There was a lot they wanted to say, but with time a factor here they get their chance.

“We discuss it later?” Remy suggested.

“Yes…later,” said Ororo, “Let’s just focus on the challenge at hand.”

Once Xavier and Moria parted, they went their separate ways. Before she left she gave Rahne a hug as well.

“Be careful, lass. And be sure to claw Selene’s eyes out when ye see her,” she told her.

“I will mom,” she said with an affectionate grin.

Rahne followed the others, her focus now solely on the task at hand. Before they got too far Xavier looked back and cast Moria one last meaningful look, letting her know he would see her again and he would make Selene pay. She nodded in understanding and turned to begin the long trek to X-Industrial. They both had jobs to do. Everything up to this point was about planning. Now it was about action.

Following the track, Xavier led Remy, Ororo, Rahne, Deadpool, Sage, and Danielle towards the manor. The track was eerily quiet, like the calm before a storm. There was nothing ahead but rust, rats, and more tunnel. But they could already see the train at the end and the entrance that led to the elevator shaft. It wouldn’t be long now before they were face to face with Selene’s forces. They just had to hope they caught her off guard.

“I hope the others can hang on,” mused Danielle.

“They will,” said Xavier, “I trained them to be strong. They are not like Selene’s other victims. They will resist her.”

“But ye know as well as I do that there’s no one she can’t break,” said Rahne.

“That’s why we have to act fast,” said the Black King, “The sooner we save them the sooner we’ll have their power behind us. We can only take solace in the knowledge that because of Selene’s torture, they’ll be even more determined to make her suffer.”

“Just like my grandpappy always told me,” smirked Deadpool, “A little anger goes a long way. But flat out hatred will go even further!”

“Your granddad really say that?” laughed Remy.

“Nah, I heard it on Springer. But you gotta admit it sure sounds cool!”

Remy and the others rolled their eyes as they followed Xavier up past the train and towards the entrance. From the looks of it the train was in utter disrepair. It probably wouldn’t even work now since it had been sitting here for years untouched. The elevator door looked pretty worn too. The edges were rusted and the paint had was chipping. There was no button either so they couldn’t activate it. Shaw probably made it so it could only be moved by controls at the top. But they didn’t need the elevator to get where they needed to go.

Using his bow staff, Remy jammed the end into the elevator and roughly pried it open. It was fairly reinforced so it took some effort. But once it was open they were led into a spacious, but dark elevator shaft.

“Okay, which wall do we blow up?” asked the Cajun.

Sage consulted the schematic again. After a brief round of calculation she turned to the wall to the right of the opening.

“This one,” she told him, “It’s probably pretty thick so you’re going to need a good charge.”

“No prob,” said Remy confidently, “Ya’ll might want to step back though.”

“And miss the fireworks? Hell no!” said Deadpool.

“Easy Wade, ye best save the healing for Selene. You’ll probably need it more then,” commented Rahne.

The others stepped back as Remy prepared to charge the wall. But before he did, Xavier stepped forth to give them one final message.

“Wait Remy. I need to tell you all one last thing before we begin,” he said, getting their attention, “Once that wall is down and we’re inside, the clock starts. We will have to get to the pawns, disrupt Selene, and take her down by any means necessary.”

His expression was stern and determined, just as they would expect for a situation like this. Then he shifted someone, becoming more serious and reasonable like he usually did when he conducted business.

“And I know all of you are not doing this because it’s right. You’re doing this because Selene has betrayed us. And we will make her pay for her crimes. But after this is over, I want you all to know that your assistance in this matter will not go unrewarded. You have my word.”

Remy, Ororo, Sage, Rahne, Deadpool, and Danielle all nodded and grinned. Charles Xavier was a complicated man, but at his core he was still a man of business and principle. When he made a promise to those who served him he kept it. And once Selene was out of the way the possibilities for them would be endless.

“You’ve paid us all a king’s ransom for our service and loyalty all these years, Charles,” said Ororo, “A promise from you is all we need.”

“Well said, cherè,” grinned Remy, “We got your back, Xavier.”

“Hell yeah! You’re the best employer I ever had!” said Deadpool, “You pay your bills on time and you always give us fun mission! Without you I would have to go back to pimping fat chicks!”

“Yes, we all owe you greatly, sir,” said Danielle, “You placed your trust in us. The least we can do is return the favor.”

“Consider taking Selene down a down payment,” said Sage.

“Thank you,” he said with a smile, “I knew I could count on you.”

With a new determination, Xavier and his forces were poised to strike Selene. That woman had caused enough chaos in their organization for too long. Someone like her, an agent of chaos, deviance, and destruction, could not be allowed to reign freely with the power of the Inner Circle. She would face the justice of the Hellfire Club. She would suffer every bit as much as she deserved. Xavier himself would see to it.

Everybody stepped back to allow Remy to charge the wall. Once he did they all covered their ears and waited for the explosion. When it went off, a deafening bang echoed through the tunnels. Rock, soil, and cement cracked as the thick walls gave way. It signaled the beginning of their assault. Once they saw the opening they all rushed through, crawling into the jagged opening and coming out on the other side. Just as they hoped, they emerged in an empty room. It was a boiler room that controlled some of the utilities of the building. And near as they could tell the alarms hadn’t gone off yet. But their intrusion would no doubt be sensed.

“Time to move!” ordered Xavier.

It was official. The counterattack against Selene had begun. Xavier, Remy, Ororo, and Rahne split off while Sage, Deadpool, and Danielle went their own way. It was sure to be an arduous battle. Hopefully the pawns could hang on just a little bit longer.

Sinister’s Lab

Hours had passed and Hank McCoy had obeyed Sinister’s orders so far. He stayed in the lab, barely getting up from his seat at his desk. He tried to occupy himself by reading over old test data or looking over some of his side-experiments. Usually, it always helped pass the time. But for the first time in recent memory, his love of science wasn’t enough to keep him occupied.

There were just too many distractions. He couldn’t stop wondering just what it was Sinister was planning. He knew he had been scheming for quite a while now. From day one, he made no secret of his desire to work beyond the limits Charles Xavier imposed on him. And he knew Sinister better than anybody. Whatever he was planning was big and he would not reveal the details until everything had come together. He promised that all this work they had been doing was about to bear fruit. But as much as he wanted to see his work come together, there was one other matter that wouldn’t stop hounding him. It was Rahne.

Hank assumed Sinister would do something to break away from Xavier and his organization. It seemed the only way for him to truly have free reign. And that never used to bother him. But now it mattered because if he moved against Xavier, then it meant Rahne could get caught in the crossfire. He could care less what happened to Xavier, but not her. Not Rahne.

Ever since she first arrived, struggling to manage what her powers were turning her into, he connected with her. She was the first person he ever came across that he could truly relate to. She wasn’t like Sinister who merely understood him. She both understood and reached out to him with a level of affection and closeness that Sinister was incapable of. And as hardened as Sinister had made him over the years, he could not escape these feelings. They affected him more than he ever could have imagined and the thought of her getting hurt as a result of him was too much to bear.

“I can’t take this ambiguous musing any longer,” he mused out loud, “I…I have to at least see if she’s okay.”

Sinister probably wouldn’t approve, but he couldn’t condemn him if he stayed in the lab. Hank made his way over to his computer console and activated a couple of programs he made himself. They were programs that fed into the security system at Hellfire Manor. He used to use it early on to spy on the women as they showered or engaged in sex rituals in the chambers. Recently he had just been using it to keep up with Rahne and see what she was up to. He made sure nobody knew what he was doing. He installed the program within the network itself so it wouldn’t view him as a breach. As far as the systems were concerned, he was just another monitoring sentry in the main program.

But as he brought the video feed from the security systems up, he noticed that something was off. All of Hellfire Manor was on high alert. There was none of the usual activity. Nearly every room was empty and every hall was being patrolled by strange looking guards who had black masks instead of the usual white masks. They were all heavily armed, looking as though they were preparing for an attack. He immediately began to worry.

‘What is this? Was there an attack of sorts? Has Sinister already made his move?’

He kept sifting through the feeds. He eventually came upon one looking outside Selene’s torture chamber. There Emma Frost was still sitting with her back against the door. She looked distressed. She was also covering her ears as if she was trying to shut something out. He assumed it was coming from the chamber, but there were no cameras in the chambers for obvious reasons. That strange Selene woman always liked to work behind closed doors. But only made him more worried. Could Rahne be behind those doors suffering?

“What are they up to?” he mused.

It was then he picked up a small blip in the program. It appeared a low level alarm had been tripped. And it was coming from within the manor. He wasn’t sure if the guards picked up on it yet so he investigated. He brought up a few feeds and wound them back a bit. That’s when he saw it.

“By stars and garners…” he said in a daze.

On the screen before him, the image of a wall being blown in played over. It caused some interference with the camera at first, but as soon as it cleared he saw a number of figures emerge. One was Charles Xavier himself, which came as quite a shock because there were only so many reasons for him to enter his manor in such a way. He also had reinforcements. He saw that Sage women he often worked with and those three thieves Sinister had worked with: Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool. There was also that young Native American girl he remembered from when he did her cosmetic surgery. But the one that stood out most was the one right next to her. It was Rahne and she was in full battle gear looking like she was ready to fight.

“It must be some kind of insurrection!” he surmised.

Hank began pouring over other video feeds. He saw that he wasn’t the only one who noticed this. A number of guards in the lower levels were beginning to investigate. They all had their weapons primed and ready for combat. And there was little doubt they were programmed to kill.

Hank got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Those guards were heading right for Rahne’s position. He could only imagine what led them to this, having to break in through a wall. But his reasoning told him it couldn’t be good. The more he looked at Rahne the more worried he grew. She was about to walk into a fight he helped make possible and there was nothing he could do about it. He didn’t know how or why, but he knew he was partially responsible because he didn’t say anything to her out of his loyalty to Sinister.

His fists clenched as he thought back to what Rahne told him just before she left. Her words echoed strongly in her mind. For everything he had done and all the conditioning Sinister had put him through, she still reached what little humanity he had left. That humanity could not stand to see Rahne get hurt in this fight. He could care less about the others, but not Rahne. He couldn’t just sit here and watch her go through this. Even his loyalty to Sinister could not keep him here.

“Rahne…” he said, placing his hand over the screen.

Growling in determination, Hank slammed his fists on the terminal and short circuited the system. He let out an angry growl, brimming with animal rage. For once his instinct and reason were in agreement. Staying here and obeying Sinister was not possible, nor was it logical. He had to do something.

“I have to help her!” he growled, “But how?! I can’t fight! I’m not even that strong! I need…”

Then he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was a container of the goblin gas that he and Sinsiter had been using in their experiments. Then an outlandish yet logical idea came to mind. If he wasn’t strong enough on is own to help Rahne, then he would need something to make himself stronger. Having seen the effects of this gas first hand, he knew what it could do to him. It could give him the strength and power he needed. But at the same time it could drive him mad just as it had done for Norman Osborn.

“Of course,” he said as he walked over and picked up container of the glass, “If I cannot fight back on my own I’ll need an edge. But the psychological side-effects of such a concentrated dose could be damning…and permanent.”

For a moment he debated with himself. He could either try and go at it under his current strength and possibly get killed before he could even find her or use this to make himself more powerful and risk insanity. It was a cruel dilemma. To help Rahne he may have to sacrifice his sanity. But the more he thought about it the more he thought back to the closeness he felt with her. She was the first person he got close to and the first person who made him feel both human and animal. Such a feeling for someone as special as her was worth the price of his sanity. He owed it to her and to himself.

“Forgive me, Sinister,” he said a she clutched the container firmly, “But I cannot obey you this time. I must do what I must…for Rahne.”

Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, Hank gripped the container and slammed it down against the floor of his lab as hard as he could. The sharp shattering sound of glass and metal echoed through the room as the gas escaped. It soon found its way to Hank where it quickly entered his system. When he felt it everything started to change.

“Ack!” he choked, “Auuuuggggghhhhhhh!”

As the gas coursed through him he felt their effects. His muscles bulged, his teeth sharpened, and his fur shifted to a much darker shade of blue. His entire stature grew until he was nearly a foot taller than he had been before. As he grew he burst out of his lab coat and most of his clothes. Soon he was only in his pair of extra elastic briefs. His roars and grunts become more feral than before, more wrought with animal rage and power. He started stumbling all over the lab, knocking over equipment and smashing computers.

Through this pain Hank also felt his mind start to warp. The once logical and coherent mind that had been so brilliant was twisted beyond recognition. Madness, pure insanity, seeped into his intelligence. He didn’t just feel a new rage. He felt a new determination as well. His old perceptions and personality were broken down in an instant and thrown back together in chaos. When it was finally over Hank McCoy, the man the pawns called Beast, was no more. Now there was a new beast…a Dark Beast.

“Hrraahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” he roared as he stormed out of the lab, “Rahne…I’m coming, my dear! I’m coming for you!”

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Up next: Selene and Xavier clash as the pawns attempt a daring escape.