Disclaimer: The X-Men and related characters are the property of Marvel Comics and are used without permission. This is a non-profit making work of fan-fiction.
 
 

Chapter Thirty-six - Never the End

Jubilee watched as Proteus' body disintegrated in a shower of golden sparks. Around her all of his work gradually came undone and as the golden glow receded, she realised that they were standing on the roof of the Hellfire Club building, not on a palace anymore. She could see the Manhattan skyline all around her. Wraith's broken bones were all healed, and she staggered slowly to her feet. Her only remaining injury appeared to be a split lip. I wish my wounds would heal as easily, Jubilee thought. I'll be bruised for weeks.

Shadowcat too was coming round.

'Did we win?' she asked dazedly.

'We won,' Jono confirmed, helping her to her feet. 'You saved us all.'

'Is Proteus dead?' Rahne asked. She had shifted back to her human form now that the danger had passed.

'I don't know,' Kate admitted. 'He thought he was at the end, but perhaps he just shifted back to whatever dimension he normally lives in. It wouldn't be the first time.'

'I hope he survived,' Rahne admitted. 'Whatever else he is, he's still my brother.'

'Just so long as he doesn't bother us any more,' Annie commented. 'I for one could do without a rematch.'

* * *

They walked slowly, tiredly back to the Blackbird, the events of the past few days finally catching up with them. They walked in silence, but it was the silence of friends. They had thought the darkness and they had triumphed. They could celebrate later; for now, there was just quiet relief.

The Blackbird was not as badly damaged as they had first thought. Kate and Paige had repaired enough systems in half an hour to get it to fly again. Manhattanites were too confused by what had just happened to interrupt their work, so they were able to leave unmolested. It also meant that they were not going to get any credit for saving the world, but that was about par for the X-Men.

They were just glad to be able to go home.

* * *

Bobby, Theresa and Sam hung side by side, suspended by their wrists and ankles. Whatever was binding them also prevented them from using their superpowers. They had been reduced to the status of mere spectators. Their only function was to give Magneto an audience.

Magneto had repaired Ferris and the purple and silver android was helping the master of magnetism to strap himself into the EACA.

'You see,' Magneto was explaining to his captives, 'once I could have done this without mechanical aid, but I'm getting older. Wisdom may come with age, but strength does not. Fortunately, humanity has been kind enough to provide me with the method of its own enslavement. With this device, this energy amplifier, I can use my magnetic power to tap into the Earth's own magnetic field. Not only that, but I can extend my powers across the entire globe. Everything that is in anyway influence by electromagnetics will be under my control – and that means everything.

'But first, I shall give the powers that be a chance to surrender peacefully. I am not an unreasonable man, I'm sure you'll agree.'

'Just get on with it, Magnus,' Sam spat.

'I intend to, Samuel, I intend to,' Magneto assured him. 'I am about to issue an ultimatum to every nation on this globe. And to help them make a decision, I intend a small demonstration of what is in store for them all if they refuse to comply.

'Xavier's dream is dead, my friends. Soon you will join with me, I am sure. The old order crumbles away. The age of Magneto Rex has begun!'

'He's completely flipped,' Sam whispered to the others.

They could hardly argue.

* * *

Jean and Scott were waiting on the lawn when the X-Men emerged from the underground hanger.

'I take it that since we're still alive, you won?' Scott asked.

'You betcha, Dad,' Annie replied, running over to him and engulfing him in a hug. She soon had to release her grip slightly so that Jean could join the embrace too.

Jono put his arm around Paige's shoulder and the pair strolled off towards the lake.

Jubilee sighed. These people had loved ones to care for and who cared for them. Jubilee had no one, had never thought she needed anyone. These were the worst moments of any mission for her. She had no one who could tell her that it had all been worthwhile.

Jean released her hold on Annie for a moment and turned to Kate.

'Kate, there's a message for you on the answering machine,' she called out.

Kate nodded and went inside to listen to it.

Rahne walked over to Jubilee.

'Ye don't like it either then,' she said.

'What?' Jubilee could not understand what the Scott was getting at.

'The aftermath,' Rahne explained.

'Well, it's easier than aftertrigonometry and not nearly as hard as afterrussianliterature,' Jubilee commented.

Rahne winced. 'Ach, now that really is a bad joke. Seriously though, why do we do the things we do?'

Jubilee banged her fist on her chest. 'To make the world safe for democracy,' she boomed in a voice that was as deep as she could manage.

Rahne frowned at her.

'Seriously? I guess we do it because there are people out there that need protecting,' Jubilee said. 'There are some bad things out there and only some of us have the power to fight back. It's up to us to protect those that can't.'

'And d'ye think we did that today?' Rahne asked.

Jubilee thought for a moment. 'Yeah,' she declared at last, 'I guess we did.'

'Then stop tearing yerself up over it,' Rahne admonished. 'Ye did a good job today, we all did. Ye've got something to be proud of.'

Jubilee stared at the horizon for a long moment, thinking about what the other woman had said. Finally she turned around to say, 'Thanks, Rahne,' but Rahne Sinclair had gone.

* * *

Shaw had a private plane waiting at the airfield. He was just waiting for it to be refuelled so he could make the flight across the Atlantic. He had friends in England, people who would be willing to help him despite what had happened. He needed to get in touch with the British arm of the Hellfire Club, in particular with the former Black Queen, the immortal witch Selene. She and he had not parted on good terms when last they met, but now they had something in common. Both had been cast out of the Inner Circle and both wanted revenge.

And Shaw was going to get it. He was going to reduce the Red Queen back to the component molecules from which he had made her. He would make Rebecca beg to return to his side. But most of all, he wanted to see Frost suffer. She had masterminded this, he was sure. She had humiliated him, outmanoeuvred him, but in the final analysis he would be victorious. When he was through with her she would be less than the dirt beneath his feet.

But for now he needed help and the Hellfire Club seemed his most likely source of it. And if they were unwilling to welcome him back with open arms? Well, the gift of his discoveries in Madripoor might just tempt them to change their minds.

* * *

Jean, Scott and the X-Men were still on the lawn outside of the mansion, with the exception of Kate who was still indoors checking her message. It was a fine day to spend by the lake, relaxing after their exertions. Or at least it had been. Now it was cold and overcast. Storm clouds were gathering on the horizon. Crimson and purple storm clouds. Slowly, they coalesced into the image of the head and shoulders of Magneto.

'Greetings, peoples of the Earth,' the image boomed. 'My name is Magneto, referred to by many as the master of magnetism. Many have called me a tyrant, many a madman, but what people have called me in the past is irrelevant to you now. What is relevant is what I am capable of doing in the present. I am capable of bringing this pathetic little world to its knees.

'My demands are simple: I want all power, military, political, electrical, all power transferred to me. I am the ruler of the Earth now. Mutants will be the ruling class, with a hierarchy within that class to be determined by me. Human beings will be the lower class. Think of it as a two-tier system with humanity the lowest rung on the ladder. You shall not be treated harshly; I am not a cruel master. Obey your mutant overseers and you shall be treated well. Disobey and you shall be punished. By death.

'That is how the world will be. Since I am not an unreasonable man, I shall give you seventy-two hours to accede to my demands. After that I shall start destroying your world. Have no doubt that I can do this. I control the electromagnetic field across the globe. I can control anything that responds to that field. I control the world! And if I wish to crush it then crushed it shall be.

'But no doubt some of you still do not believe me so I have readied a little demonstration for your convenience. I can control any electronic device within the range of this globe's electromagnetic field. I shall now reach out and turn every single electronic device in the city of New York off.

'Remember, you have seventy-two hours.'

In the distance, far away from the X-Men, but still visible, the lights that marked out the Manhattan skyline winked out.

Even more chilling, the constant hum of background noise that emanated from the city ceased. No trains, no cars, no machinery at all. The city was dead. The only sounds to be heard were the twitterings of birds.

Jubilee took her Walkman from her pocket and tuned it to a Manhattan radio station. All she got was static. She tried three more stations with the same result.

Scott got out his mobile phone and dialled a Manhattan number. He could get no response.

'He's really done it, hasn't he?' his wife whispered, voicing all their fears. 'He's really taken over the city.'

'Worse,' Scott said, 'if he can do this then maybe he can carry out his threat after all.'

'Then we have to stop him,' Jubilee said with conviction. 'Magneto is the sort of foe the X-Men were created to defeat. Heck, he was the first foe you ever did defeat. If he's out strutting his stuff again then it's up to us to put a stop to it.'

'It'll be a while before we can get the Blackbird up and running again.' Scott was not pointing out a flaw in her plan, merely making an observation.

'Then let's get started on it,' Jono replied. 'We're on a clock, here.'

Kate emerged from the mansion.

'So, Kate, what's the plan?' Paige asked.

'Sorry, what plan?' Kate seemed distracted. Her mind was elsewhere.

'Well, duh, Kate, didn't you see Magneto's message?' Jubilee asked.

'Oh, sure, that,' Kate replied absently. Her eyes were focussed on a point somewhere above the lake.

Rahne put a hand on her shoulder. 'Katherine, what was that phone call about?'

'It was from Pete Wisdom,' Kate replied, without turning to look at the others.

'Your boyfriend?' Jubilee asked.

'Ex-boyfriend,' Rahne corrected quietly.

'He wants me to go to Britain. Something about a mutant serial killer.'

'But what about Magneto?' Jubilee demanded. For the first time in the conversation, Kate turned to look at her. Jubilee thought she might be getting through. 'Forget the fate of the world for a minute. He's got Sam, Bobby and Theresa. They're are friends. We've got to go and help them.'

Kate just continued to stare at her blankly.

Jubilee was tempted to pick her up and shake her, would probably have done so had Kate not been a good deal taller than she was.

'Kate, listen to me,' she pleaded in exasperation, 'we've got to stop Magneto. We're the only ones who can!'

Kate's eyes focussed on Jubilee's and Jubilee realised that the older woman had come to a decision – a decision she was not going to like.

'Magneto is your problem, Jubilee,' Kate announced flatly. 'I'm going to England.'