Warning:This chapter is reaaaaaaalllllly long...you have been warned! Gregor sprinted through the dully light hallways he had found hidden behind the door that the Black King and Queen had disappeared through. His footsteps pounded heavily on the concrete ground, and he began to wonder why he had found no opposition. This was far too easy for his comfort....
Beast Charming lifted his glue gun and fired, coating three mutates in front of him with adhesive and binding them together. As he did so, he leapt into the air, did a somersault over the trio and landed behind them, before he once again fired his canon. Little did he know, through his feelings of finally being an actual warrior, that one of the smarter mutations was coming closer to him, sneaking up on him. Before it attacked, however, SuperGrover came flying down, and crushed the monster within his TK field. He grimaced at this, feeling as if killing had become almost second nature to him. Beast Charming, his back coated in the jade blood of the creature, turned stiffly, and stuttered a thank you to the White King.
“No problem...um....I’m sorry, what’s your name?” Grover replied, rather embarrassed.
“It’s Beast Charming. I guess I’m a newbie. Just became a Marauder...”
“Well, watch your back, or else you won’t be a Marauder for much longer, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” grinned the young man, feeling slightly nervous talking to the White King of the IHFC. He watched as Grover flew off, further up the front of the battle. Beast Charming continued to attack the enemy, a little more cautious this time.
Siryn gritted her teeth as she used her powers to incinerate the enemy in front of her. She watched it burn as she went on to the next beast, and did the same to it. Painful screams rose through the atmosphere, but she did not care. She had only met this Avalon a few days ago, but she did not like to see her friends, even her new ones, come to harm. Another mutate screamed as she attacked it.
Deep below the battlefield, Gulliver laughed a deep, guttural laugh. Silver’s face contorted with pain, as the bones in his hand got closer and closer to breaking point. Through his squinted eyes, he realized that Gulliver’s gauntlet was made of metal. The Black King focused his mind, and felt the atoms in the glove shift, just before the huge man screamed in agony, and ripped the now spiked glove from his hand, revealing torn flesh and warm blood.
“You piece of shit!” screamed Gulliver, as he began charging at Silver. The King ducked out of the way, and the Queen, who had been standing next to him, managed to perform a double back flip, landing out of range of the huge man.
“COWARDS!!!,” he screamed, his frustration coming to the front. “When I’m finished with you, I’ll make sure that Avalon suffers twice as much!!!”
“Don’t be so sure you’ll win, you bastard!” shouted Avalon, electrical energy ripping from his hands and exploding on the back of his old friend. Gulliver was sent flying, past the figure of Nemesis and landed face first in the water of the tunnels.
“You killed him?” Silver asked Avalon, still staring at the apparently lifeless body.
“...” Avalon did not seem to notice the King’s question, so as Silver began to re-ask it, the Scribe replied “No. I didn’t. I made sure not to.”
“But he was prepared to kill you! Why wouldn’t you do the same?!?” asked the Queen, astounded.
“I was never like that, Nemesis. You should know that!” replied the boy. The two royals were surprised, the scribe was usually far more respectful and polite.
“Don’t start bringing up the past now, Avalon. This isn’t the time!”
“Why not? I’d say it’s the perfect time? Why are you so afraid of people knowing?”
“It’s a matter of face. The BHC members would no longer respect me if...”
“Are you two finished?” came the voice of Gulliver, his head slowly rising from the water. The three allies turned, as the huge body of Gulliver regained it’s stance.
“If you mean finished with you, Gulliver, then I would have to say not by a long shot.” Avalon replied.
“Oh, how brave and witty you sound,” Gulliver chuckled weakly. “By the way, why would you risk killing us all by using your powers in here, boy? How arrogant are you?”
“You’re one to talk! You wanted to kill me, you son of a bitch!”
“You were going to kill both of us only a few minutes ago, boy. I heard what you said to your little king there about not killing me. How holier-than-thou you become when we have company!” spat Gulliver. Avalon became frustrated, and snapped.
“I’m confused, okay?!? As soon as I think I have it in me to kill you, a damn memory pops up and I find I can’t do it!!! How could you have changed so damn much, Gulliver? I don’t understand...”
“You can’t understand!!! You’ve never known love, boy!!! Not for a woman!! You’ve been alone and single all your life!!! You’re still a virgin, for God’s sake!!! Don’t even try to understand!!!” Avalon felt embarrassed. He glanced at Nemesis and Silver, and they looked back at him. He saw a small smirk appear on the Queen’s face, and blushed harder. This was getting personal.
“...I....I....” Avalon stuttered, trying to think “Well....that doesn’t justify ANY of this!!! I may have never been in love, Gulliver, but that doesn’t matter! Being in love doesn’t mean you can kill others because you’re pissed off with the world! I’ve spent years looking for love!!! First from you, then from my father, then from the BHC!!! I haven’t found any form of it, but that doesn’t mean it gives me the right to take vengeance upon the world!”
“You’re a fool, Avalon! An absolute fool!,” screamed Gulliver, as he once again began to enhance his size.
“Now I’m going to do what I ordered Pug to do before. Kill you!!!” the huge man once again charged, but when he did, a fourth figure fell from the secret trap door overhead. Gregor stood mightily in the way of Gulliver, blocking the path to Avalon. There was no time for the huge man to stop and he crashed into the Red Rook. Gregor, however had been expecting this, and had at the last moment dived into Gulliver, and tackled him to the ground.
“Gregor?!?,” said the astounded Nemesis “What are you doing here?”
“Saving all of your lives, it would appear,” he said, as he wrestled with the some what stunned Gulliver.
“Now go! get out of here! I can take care of this one!!!”
“But...” Avalon began, feeling as if Gregor was fighting a battle that was Avalon’s personal one.
“GO!!!” the old king bellowed, his fist smashing into the jaw of Gulliver.
“Best to go, son,” Silver said “Gregor knows what he’s doing. We need to go help our fellow Club members. They’ve been attacked by an army of mutations.”
“Mutations?” Avalon asked. He knew those mutations! Failed experiments of Sinister’s. They had always been locked away in a separate part of the lab. Silver grabbed the boy’s arm and pulled him along.
“Come on...there’s no time!” they ran, with Nemesis in pursuit. A virgin? That was...interesting....
“Who the hell do you think you are, interfering with my plans they way you have!!!” bellowed Gulliver, no longer as taken aback as he was.
“I am Gregor!!! Red Rook Uproar to the Red Hellfire Court!!! Once the Black King of the Black Hellfire Club!!! I am your destruction!!!’ bellowed Gregor, laying more punches into Gulliver.
“Oh, really?” came the response “How very melodramatic. I actually find your seriousness quiet comical.” Gulliver brought a knee up into Gregor’s stomach, and the Rook fought on, even though all the wind had been knocked from him.
“You won’t find it so comical when I tear your heart from your chest and feed it to you!” threatened Gregor, shifting his weight so that he managed to flip Gulliver over his back and throw him three metres away, allowing for a little room between them.
“You’re...threats...” Gulliver wheezed “...do not work on me. You’re nothing but a child! I shall break you as I have everyone else that has opposed me over the years! I crushed Sinister, and I can crush you!”
“I sincerely doubt it!” spat Gregor, as he transformed the polluted sewer air into his powerful blast field, and rocketed towards the form of Gulliver. Impact was made, and the two went pounding into the wall, smashing through it. Bricks and dust rained down as Gregor stood above the fallen body of Gulliver.
“That was too easy.” said Gregor cynically, as he looked around the area in which he’d crashed into, as water came flooding in. It was dark, but in the middle of the room a light poured down, and underneath it, in a bed surrounded by equipment, lay the body of a beautiful young woman. Her breathing was faint, and her face was pained, but through it all, Gregor could see what a lovely creature she truly was. He wondered what to do. The machines around her appeared to be the only thing that linked here to life, so could he take her with him? His thoughts were interrupted, however, when Gulliver’s hand snapped up, grabbed Gregor’s ankle, and flipped the Red Rook to the ground. The battle had started again.
Avalon now flew down the tunnel, his powers once again at full. He kept to a slow speed, so that the king and queen could keep up. Silver suddenly interrupted the silence by asking “I know you both want to keep it a secret, but I think I have a right to know, what the hell is going on here. You’re both referring to some mysterious past connection, and quite frankly, I’ve had enough of being kept in the dark!”
Avalon remained silent, waiting for the Black Queen’s response.
“What does it matter, Jack?”
“It matters, Nem,” said Silver, stopping in his tracks. “Now I’m sorry to act juvenile, but I’m not taking another step until things are explained to me.” Nemesis sighed with an annoyed breath, and Avalon released his magnetic field and gracefully dropped to the ground.
“All right...fine...but you know how much I despise...revealing...things about myself,” Nemesis said, as she looked over at Avalon and asked “Care to explain to your king, Av?” Avalon pondered where to begin.
“Years ago...after I had escaped from Sinister’s pits to Australia, I learnt through various sources that my father was the ‘villain’ Erik Lensherr, better known to the masses as Magneto. I had never had a father before. The news shook me. I immediately traveled to America, and went about trying to find him, to tell him about me. I wanted a father so badly, you see. I had lost my mother. Even now my memories of her are few and faint. So, I was in the United States again, alone and afraid of being caught by Sinister. That was when I came up with my idea. I went about to form a team. A team that would grant me security and one that I could honor my father with. I formed the Acolytes, a group dedicated to the efforts of Magneto, named after his own personal army. We were a small militia, really. Nothing more. But, we did have one member with a special destiny. Nemesis. She never said anything about her IHFC and BHC connection. I think I probably would have felt less in control if she had....” Avalon stopped momentarily. He looked at Silver, as Silver looked at Nemesis with surprise “That was it?!? That was the big surprise?!?”
“Like I said, Jack sweety,” Nem replied “I hate people knowing too much about me. Av’s knowledge about me made me feel insecure. It’s hard to respect those who are in control when they’ve served under their own minions.”
“Minions?” questioned Avalon.
“Figure of speech,” replied Nemesis “Shall you be continuing?”
“Uh, yeah.....So, as I was saying, I was in America, and was afraid of being recaptured. I formed the Acolytes and I once again began to feel confident. That was when I decided to talk to my father, face to face, so I left the team for a little while to find him. When I did he rejected me. Said he didn’t care, that there was no proof. I was crushed. I expected open, loving arms, and was greeted with accusation and disbelief. I went back to my team, only to find that they had been disbanded without my knowledge. I was crushed. I had been forsaken by both my father and my team. That was when I was contacted by Nemesis. She informed me of her new status, told me how and why the Acolytes broke up, and then offered me a position as Black Scribe. I didn’t know what the BHC was, but she quickly informed me. How could I resist? I took the position, on the promise to the Queen that I never mention her affiliation with the Acolytes.”
“And look who’s being bad and breaking his oath?” Nemesis grinned. Avalon was surprised at her change of attitude towards him. It was almost as if now that their past tie had been revealed that she had no fear of him embarrassing her. He shook his head. He had never found Nemesis the comprehendable type...
“Well, that the big mystery is resolved, we can continue.” said Silver, feeling foolish at the way he had demanded to know, and being let down by the seemingly trivial revelation. They re-started their escape....
Gomurr grunted as the mutate’s fist came crashing down upon his little chest. He was pinned to the floor, and was beginning to think of spells to use when Grover appeared. The boy once again used his telekinesis to shatter the creature before him, and he helped his old teacher to find his feet.
“Agh, thank you for the assist, lad. I’m afraid I’m not such a physically challenging opponent as I once was.” smiled the old man.
“But when were you?” chuckled SuperGrover, teasing Gomurr.
“Good point, boy, good point. But don’t think that the fact I’m not very pumped means I can’t kick your ass.” the Ancient shot back.
“Advice taken, sire,” smiled the White King “Now, should we continue our attack?”
“Let’s.” The two of them turned, and faced the mutations that had come to oppose them. Further away, Deadpool hacked through the limbs of a creature with his katana, not exactly sure why so many troops were needed to retrieve only one Advocate. Suddenly, one being broke free of the crowd of others. It was bare far the biggest of all these immense creatures, and the most fierce. Its’ teeth and claws were made of pure adamantium, its’ body a form of hardened bone. Its’ eyes glowed with a malicious red, and it thirst only for blood. It snarled at the red clad men, and began inching forward, preparing for long, hard, drawn-out battle. Deadpool regarded the beast, before he drew his hand cannon and shot the thing in the head. It was stasis in mid air for a second before its’ limp body fell to the floor. Deadpool once again holstered his weapon, and chuckled to himself. He was glad he had been brought along.
Further away, the Iceman, with Nate, DarkWolf, Psi-Shot and Beast Charming, attacked the share of mutations they had. DarkWolf snarled in a beastial manner as he ravaged one of the nearby creatures. Beast Charming was taken aback by this, and accidentally stumbled into the surrounding darkness. Little did he know, he activated a doorway, which slid open as he fell, landing on his back in a hallway. One of the mutates followed him, and was crushed to death by the uniting walls that had slid together when Beast Charming had drawn his feet out of the way.
“Alright!” he exclaimed, giving a little victory dance. He gave no attention to the sight of the bleeding, crushed corpse out of fear of becoming ill.
Gregor lashed forward at the bulky Gulliver, who was growing larger and stronger by the minute. He once again, rocketed forward, but found that Gulliver remained steady in his tracks. The huge man laughed at the Rook’s attempts, as his giant hand clamped down on Gregor’s head.
“I do so love to squash the life from things. The sights of a living brain being crushed, seeing it bleed and die, is just so exciting. I never realized how exhilarating death could be until I started dosing it out. It’s so sweet. Nearly as sweet as love. Making death is just as good as making love.” he chuckled. Gregor’s mind tensed, his teeth gritted, and he threw his hands onto Gulliver’s one, attempting to pry his head free. It was working, so he once again used his blast field, this time concentrating enough to create a spear. The weapon appeared in Gregor’s hand, and he thrashed forward, striking at Gulliver’s stomach.
“ARRRRRRGH!!!!” screamed the enormous man in hurt and surprise, letting go and clutching at his stomach. Gregor ignored his pounding migraine, and pressed his advantage. He struck at Gulliver’s head with the weapon, not satisfied until he saw the sight of blood spraying forth.
“Stop that, damn you!” bellowed Gulliver, now losing his immensity. He was now down to his normal size, his frame nothing but lanky and small. Gregor grinned as he brought a knee up into Gulliver’s face, over and over again.
“Die, you son of a bitch! You bastard! DIE!!!” screamed Gregor, taking pleasure in the pain he was creating. He stopped. What was he doing? What Gulliver had said was true. Making death was as addictive as making love. Gregor felt a sickness in the pit of his stomach. Why was this violence so joyful to him, anyway? What made it as good a drug as sex? He could not know why. In the time Gregor had been distracted, Gulliver had managed to once again use his power, but this time instead of enlarging himself, he had shrunk himself, and had used his tiny size to escape unnoticed, through one of the ancient, cobbwebbed air conditioning grates. Gregor didn’t realize until it was too late, and when he did, he bellowed in rage. He had late that weasily arsehole escape! His anger got to him, and he tore at the surrounding area, destroying what he saw. It wasn’t until he once again saw the unconscious beauty that he stopped. Her calm face sedated him, and he began walking to her bedside. What if this were a trap, he thought. He couldn’t take the risk, and even if it wasn’t, he could hardly just pick her up and take her. The machines connected to her were those of supporting life, and if they were severed, it would undoubtedly mean her death. He sighed, and uttered his apology, as he left the room, to return the main hall.
Avalon was the first to surface from the man hole, and as he waited for his two superiors, he wondered how Gregor was faring. Gulliver was tough, but then again, so was the ex-Black King. Avalon’s thoughts were snapped by the appearance of the current majesty, Silver. The king, dressed in his rather simple costume of black body suit with metallic gloves and belt, was covered in the muck of sewerage water. Avalon looked down, and saw that the white lycra garb he had been clothed in was not turned a murky brown. Nemesis next appeared, and was seemed surprisingly clean, as if all the dirt and muck had naturally fallen from her.
“First thing I do when we arrive back at the mansion,” she said, straightening up and returning to her usual graceful pose “Is have a nice, long, hot, clean shower.”
“I’ll second that,” said Silver “But to get clean, we first have to get out of here. If we shall?” he said, his gentlemanly manner showing through.
“We shall.” replied Nemesis, once again bantering with her King. Avalon wondered why they both seemed so comfortable, as if there were no concerns in the world. His head and stomach both felt as if they were ready to fracture.
Belasco tore the limp body of the creature from the doorway, and saw Beast Charming standing on the other side with an embarrassed, shy smile.
“Thanks. Like I said, the body was jammed and I couldn’t get out.” he said.
“No trouble,” countered the Demon Lord “But next time you make your own way out. Understand?”
“Sure. No problems. Understood. Roger and out.” smiled Charming, as he peered through the doorway. Belasco hated to admit it, but he found the little guy rather appealing. He was something unnatural, like an unnatural force was telling him to do so. Still, the guy was humorous, and there was always room for a jester.
Puma11 hopped above the heads of the mutates that had managed to surround her. She hissed in a feline manner, and dived back down into them, hacking and slashing with her fury. She loved the taste of battle, and loved her wild side. Fighting allowed her to indulge her animal nature, and it made her feel truly free. Nearby, Gomurr watched. His student seemed to take great joy from the pain she was causing. He would have to watch that. Too many of these BHCer’s were bloodthirsty as it was. He couldn’t lose another...
Gregor climbed from the hole the other had only minutes ago. He couldn’t decided if he was spinning from the fight, or from the stench emanating from the putrid water beneath him. His clothes were stained with blood and murk, and he thought of how much he spent on dry-cleaning after each of his missions. He walked from the man hole and down a hallway, and saw the other three further away.
“HEY!!!” he shouted out, getting their attention, making them turn. He quickly raced up to them, pushing back at the pain at doing this. He was surprised at how much damage Gulliver had done. For someone not Alpha-classed, he had certainly been a difficult opponent.
“Gregor, how are you?” queried Silver, his question more polite than out of true concern.
“I’m better than Gulliver is feeling right now.” he answered. “You didn’t kill him?” asked Avalon.
“No...I didn’t. He escaped before I...could....” Gregor said, ignoring his doubt about having it within him to kill anymore.
“....I...supposed...that’s a good thing, then...” Avalon said, not so sure himself. “I found a girl down there,” Gregor changed the subject “Well, not a girl. A woman. She was in a hospital bed surrounded by life support machines. I couldn’t move her out of concern for her well-being. Perhaps we could get some medics down here la...”
“WHAT?!?,” asked Avalon, stunned. He had forgotten! She was still here! And Gregor had found here.
“Where was she?” was the frantic question.
“In a separate room I found when I smashed Gulliver into a wall. She’s out of it, Avalon...”
“I’ll be back soon. Go help the others...” said the boy, his blue aura encompassing him, levitating him from the ground, and hurtling him back down to the sewers, before any of the others had a chance to object. They stood, open mouthed, at the surprise departure.
Gulliver lay, no more than three inches tall, in the grimy confines of the air duct. His barely awake mind was groggy with pain, and his blood poured from the many cuts on his body. He had not been in this form for years, since the last time Sinister had beat him. This was worse, however, this was only a shy step away from death. He could feel it calling for him, whispering in his ear promises of peace and tranquillity. The chance to see his precious Soma again. No, he raged, he couldn’t! He had things to do! He had to have his revenge on Sinister. He had to have his revenge on the one called Gregor. He had to have his revenge. Suddenly, a blue figure shot past, and Gulliver stirred. He peered from one of the holes in the grate, to see Avalon a hundred metres down the tunnel, going at a blinding speed. Perhaps in the day lay salvation. Gulliver began racking his body with pain, as he attempted to recapture his larger size.
Avalon finally made it to the place where Gregor had mentioned. The side of the wall was caved in, and as he peered inside, he saw the first glimpse of her he had had in years. He quickly swept in, and strode up to her bedside. He looked down upon her beautiful face, her crimson hair, almost purple in some way. She had not changed in all these years. Not one bit. She was delicate and yet as strong as she had always been. His friend “De Locke.” he whispered, hoping to stir her slumber. It didn’t work, and he felt mournful. He knew she was dying. His heart stood gravely, as he wondered what to do. He could not, would not leave her here. He would not wait for BHC medics to come sweep her away. He had to take her now. But how could that be done? These machines anchored her to life. Without them, she was gone. It was then that Avalon decided to make an attempt at something he had never been able to accomplish before. He concentrated, tensed his mind and will, and brought his field outward. This time, however, he kept it going, and absorbed De Locke and her life-giving machines into it. He brought within a millimeter of all it surrounded, and then concentrated harder. He lifted himself into the air, and brought the other objects, including his old friend, into it with him. He smiled at his achievement, and began to fly out of the room, slower than usual, but still faster than the speed he would have walking.
Gulliver crouched in the middle of the tunnel, his blood spoiling the already spoiled water. He coughed up his scarlet life as he waited, and wiped it away with the back of his hand. Avalon would help, he was certain. Almost certain, that was. He saw a figure further down, and knew it was the boy. He attempted a grin, finding the effort only brought him pain from his cracked lips and bruised face. Eventually, Avalon arrived, within the confines of his magnetic aura he held De Locke and her necessities.
“I see you found her.” smiled Gulliver again, pushing back the pain, not knowing how sinister the contortions made his face look.
“Yes,” answered the boy “I have. Now step aside. You’re beaten, so just let us go.” Gulliver was surprised. There was no compassion in the boy’s voice. Only malice.
“I need your help, Avalon. I have been a foolish, foolish old man. I have made mistakes. I have seen my grievances. Please help me. Please save me.” Avalon stared at the broken figure of Gulliver with a cold, stony face. He made his mind “No. Now step out of the way before I make you step out of the way.” The threat came as an insult to Gulliver.
“You thankless creature!,” he spat “I reared you! I was as if a father to you! I tell you I’m sorry and you spit in my eye!”
“You wanted to kill me, Gulliver! You think words can make up for that?!? I was sorry for leaving you and the others behind, but there was not a day I did not feel heavy for doing it! Now, after behaving the way you have, you want my mercy? I doubt it. Now, I shall ask once again, before I do it myself, move!”
“You’ll have to kill me first!” Avalon considered this statement, before he replied “I don’t have to, Gulliver. I won’t stoop to your level. Your beaten and bleeding. If you don’t die now, the virus will get you later. There is no need for me to kill you, and besides, I don’t have it in me. I no longer think I have the capacity. Before, I was suicidal, but there is a chance for me. The BHC has some of the best scientists and doctors in the world in their pocket. If anyone can save me, they will. I could have saved you, too, Gulliver, had you simply come to me, asked me for help, but now? Now, you can die for all I care, and you can do it alone. De Locke is coming with me! Now, I will move....” With that, Avalon brushed Gulliver aside with no more than a thought, an electromagnetic force pushing him away. The Scribe continued gliding down the tunnel, his unconscious friend along for the ride. Gulliver looked on in a mix of emotions, as he lay in the pool of filth. In a matter of hours, he had crumbled into nothing, with noone. As Avalon exited the sewer, the old, battle torn man Gulliver began to weep, with the realization that this was all his doing. It was then that he thought of the small dagger he had concealed in his gauntlet. Why he had not thought of this weapon previously, he did not know why, but as he drew it out now, it was to serve only one purpose. He placed it at his chest, before he said,
“Soma, my love....I join you now.....with all my hatred purged from me....” He plunged the dagger into his broken heart, and felt his life ebb away, as his body began to slump and his throat made gurgling noises. Peace was at last his....
Avalon emerged from the hallway, into the darkened room where his brethren stood amongst the dead bodies of many mutates. The sight was one of battle, he knew, but he could not help but feel sorry for the loss of all those pitiful creatures.
“There he is!” shouted the small figure of Gomurr, chuckling. Pretty much all in attendance converged on him, with questions of how was he, what had happened, why was he dressed like that, who was the girl, how was carrying her with his powers like....
“Let’s give our Scribe a little breathing room, shall we?,” spoke the calm voice of Nemesis “How are you Avalon.”
“I’m fine, miss. A little tired, but fine.”
“Well, let’s get you home. You’ve had a busy time. We all have.” she said, she brushed at dirt it seemed only she could see.
“You heard our Queen, everyone!” voiced King Silver a smile on his face “Let’s go home!”
TO BE CONCLUDED!
Sorry for how long this chapter was, but I really felt like wrapping it up in an event style chapter! The final few questions will be answered in the epilogue, and then there will be a fun little game afterwards. Thanks for sticking through it! :D
~Av