Excalibur and the X-Men are trademarks of Marvel Comics. This story is an unauthorised work done purely for my personal enjoyment, and is not intended to infringe on any of their rights in or their profits from these characters. But this story is copyright to me.

Comments, especially (constructive) criticism, always welcomed. Please e-mail me at

mark_shakespeare@lineone.net.

Notes:

< > indicates thoughts

* * indicates telepathy

The powerful Captain Britain, the shapeshifting Meggan, the swashbuckling Nightcrawler, the intangible Shadowcat, the telepathic Psylocke, the Weregirl Wolfsbane, and Lockheed the dragon. Forged in the fires of their tragic pasts, they have banded together to fight a modern day crusade against evil!

Mark Shakespeare presents :

Excalibur Redrawn - Part 29.

Otakai and Belasco locked gazes, as their respective forces glared at one another, ready to begin battle. Captain Britain took advantage of the respite to regain the side of Doctor Strange, who had been trying to find a counterspell to Belasco's magic onslaught. "Doctor? What now?" He had to pinch his nose against the stench coming from both the demons and the rotting forms of Otakai's Undead minions. He found it hard to decide which was the more repulsive....

"Kurt and Kitty. We must get them away from Belasco's demons, and quickly. There is a force at work here, sapping their strength and willpower. You and I are, for the moment at least, immune, but they are not." The Sorcerer Supreme gestured to the two fallen heroes. "Miss Pryde should be first - it is her, after all, whom Belasco has been so interested in." He was still unsure exactly WHY the young woman should be of such interest to the mage - true, he knew that she had been a soulmate of Illyana Rasputin, but that didn't make her any more magically gifted than a normal person - at least as far as Doctor Strange knew. Unless that connection was what Belasco wished to exploit ....

"I understand, Doctor. Leave it to me." And with that, Brian Braddock threw himself headlong into the demons between himself and Kitty's fallen body. His fists, driven by the power of his Otherworldly body and fueled by his righteous anger, smashed demons aside as if they were straw in the wind. He called upon all of his fighting experience, the lessons learnt in both hard-fought training exercises and mortal combat, and smashed his way through the enemy ranks as if inspired.

Then Belasco's eyes widened in recognition "YOU?! I thought I had slain you centuries ago!"

"No, fool. I am, as you see, alive and well. Unlike you, I am also intact. What happened, Belasco? Did your untrustworthy masters punish you for one of your many failures?" Otakai's voice was gloating, and he smiled a little at his enemy's rage. He was deliberately goading his old enemy, knowing that anger could lead to carelessness.

The demon-mage's eyes narrowed in hatred. "You will pay for that, fool! ATTACK! Kill them all!" And the demons hurled themselves headlong into the waiting Undead horde.

*********************************************

Meggan had the kettle boiling when Logan returned to the kitchen. Betsy had taken the two paracetamol which she had been handed, and was now staring out of the kitchen window, deep in thought. Rahne had washed up the dinner plates, and was now in her room, listening to music. Lockheed was fast asleep on top of one of the kitchen cupboards, his belly full. The voluptuous fey turned and smiled at the feral X-man when she heard him return. "You've got yourself settled in already, I take it?" She poured him a coffee, strong and black, just the way he liked it.

Logan grinned back. < Mebbe Kit or the Elf told 'er how I like it, 'cause I know I didn't. >

Though he didn't know Meggan that well, his senses told him that here was someone with a rare innocence and inner light, something that conversations with Kurt and Kitty could only confirm. He might be gruff, world-weary and cynical himself, but that didn't mean he couldn't admire someone who had managed to hang onto a joyful and optimistic approach to the world. "Yup, didn't have much with me, I always travel light. Nice place ya got here. Braddock's?"

Meggan nodded happily. "Brian was left this when his father died. It seemed the best place for us to use as a temporary base for Excalibur." The blonde fey didn't know Logan too well, only having met him a few times before, but her own senses were keen enough to tell her that the man at the table could be trusted implicitly.

"So ya reformin' the team then, long term?" He'd thought that he'd heard that from someone or other, but couldn't remember who it had been. It made sense, though, what with Xavier having disbanded the X-Men and forced everyone out to fend for themselves. Some of them - those who were not so experienced at looking after themselves - were not taking it well.

"Indeed, Logan, that is the plan." Betsy's cultured tones slid smoothly into the conversation. The purple-haired telepath had been listening from her chair, and smiled to herself at how well the two, so very different in outlook, were getting on. "We feel that there is a need for a team which operates outside of the United States as a matter of course, especially since the actions of the X-Men seem to be having a deleterious effect on relations between mutants and non-mutants. I have often thought that Charles would have done better to be more concerned with public relations than he has been in the past. Excalibur, on the other hand, had a very good reputation over here, at least until the political fallout from Onslaught. So it makes sense for the team to reform, and try to undo the political damage caused by the actions of the X-Men - if you'll pardon me for saying, Logan."

The stocky Canadian shrugged. "No skin off my nose, Betts. I ain't been hangin' around these years just 'cause Charlie said so. I did it fer the sake o' friendship, an' ta pick up the pieces when the shit hits the fan - which it usually does. So if you people over here c'n prevent the fallout from spreadin' worldwide, more power to ya, I say." He agreed with what the purple-haired ninja said about the importance of public relations, albeit reluctantly - he preferred to get on with the job that needed doing. Still, he had to admit, the Professor's way of doing things, just defeating the bad guys but refusing to talk to those caught up in the X-Men's battles, didn't seem to be making mutant/non-mutant relations any better.

"Well, Logan, that is what we intend to try. The anti-mutants have had far too much time to spread their message of hate without anyone publicly countering it. Now it's time for the opposite side of the argument to be made. That's what Excalibur intend doing." Betsy leant back in her chair, one eyebrow elegantly raised as she asked her old teammate "Why, how long do you intend staying here, Logan? Long enough to help out with the more action-orientated side of things?"

"Yep. Since Chuck wound up the X-Men, ain't no reason fer me ta be over the States anymore, 'cept fer Jubilee. So, I'll stick around fer a bit, as long as ya want me, an' drop in on Jubes now an' again. Fact, Betts, ya could always come with me when I see the sparkplug next ...." < Well, when she ain't seein' ya as a rival fer me, like she does Kit ... >

Betsy smiled, overhearing the mental comment and knowing that Logan might in fact be thinking of other reasons for her to accompany him .... "I may well do so, old friend." She smiled at his mock-glare when she mentioned him being old.

*********************************************

Doctor Strange began to chant, ancient words of power spilling from his lips. He had no eyes for the battle, no time to see if Captain Britain had managed to get his young teammate away from Belasco's demons. He had to try to swing the balance of power their way, and he had to do so right now. He felt the arcane energies building within him, finding expression in the words he spoke and the gestures he made. Belasco had called upon the power of the Elder Gods, and Stephen Strange now had to bring forth the counterbalance that would enable them to defeat the demon-mage and his horde. True, Otakai was there to help, with his own army of Undead monsters, but that still left the would-be rescuers with a mountain to climb. The Doctor didn't need his arcane powers to tell him that Belasco's army was far larger and more powerful than that of Otakai, and that, with both Kurt and Kitty down, something needed to be done right now. So he spun his web of power, felt the mystic energies course through him.

Then he spoke the final runes, and the spell was cast. There was a sound like wind through the treetops, like the crashing of waves on the beach, like the song of birds in the distance, like so many, many things. A shimmering blue veil began to descend from the air in front of the sorcerer as the mystic gateway opened.

Brian heard the sound, but had no time ascertain what had caused it. He was now only a few feet from Kitty, but the demons were throwing themselves in his way in such numbers that he could no longer make further progress towards her. The claws of his assailants were beginning to break through his protective forcefield, and through his costume, drawing blood from a score of shallow scratches. But he refused to stop, refused to let his enemies prevent him from rescuing his friend and teammate. He would NOT be defeated.

*********************************************

" .... score was ninety-eight for seven at the close of play. The match - "

There was an audible click as the driver switched off the radio, his thin face fixed in a scowl of disgust. "Useless wankers! Might as well send the bloody women's team out ter play, instead o' those useless gits! That rate they'll be lucky ter make an 'undred." He drew a deep breath of tobacco smoke into his lungs, feeling better as the hot smoke burned inside him. Pete Wisdom was most definitely not in a good mood. Not that he was much of a cricket fan, preferring football (of course!), but he did want his home side to win. But they so rarely seemed to. He'd be so much happier when the footbal season started, he mused, then he could get back to watching his beloved Arsenal hopefully regain the Championship. The news of a not-unexpected England collapse had not lightened a mood already soured by a bad start to the day.

Stuart dropping this mission into his lap had not been the way he'd wanted the day to start, and he mentally cursed himself for accepting the job, even though he knew that he'd had no real choice in the matter. He hated the thought of having to work alongside members of the 'spandex brigade', having had his fill of such things when working as a member of Excalibur. He'd only done that because of Kitty, and he'd left as soon as their relationship had fallen apart.

And now, here he was on a journey to meet up with X-Force, to carry out a mission in London for Alistaire Stuart - a man he heartily despised. < Mum told me there'd be days like this ..... >

*********************************************

"What the bloody hell just happened, Radar?!" The Captain couldn't understand how the yacht had just vanished from the radar screen. What in the name of God had sunk it, if it had been sunk??

"I don't know, Captain! It just - "

BOOM!

The bridge crew flinched as an explosion next to the bow sent a spray of water over the ferry. Passengers on the decks began screaming and running for cover. The Captain and his staff stared at each other for a few seconds, stunned into immobility, then the older man barked out orders. "Hard a starboard, helm! Engine room, give us full speed ahead! Radio, send a distress call to the Coastguard, to anyone who might be listening, tell them we're under attack, to call the Navy or Air Force! Hurry, man, before they get our range!" The rest of the crew, snapping out of their shock, did as the Captain had ordered. The radio man quickly brought the microphone to his mouth.

"Mayday, mayday! This is the ferry Eastern Endeavour, en route to Dover! We are under attack, I say again, we are under attack! Mayday, mayday, calling the Coastguard, calling the Navy, calling anyone! We are the ferry Eastern Endeavour, en route ...."

*********************************************

The stunning platinum blonde woman smiled to herself. The super-powered operatives she had recruited would easily swing the balance of power her way when she came to move against Excalibur, with or without the powers of Jamie Braddock. She still had access to those members of the criminal organisation that had once belonged to Vixen who had not been arrested in the aftermath of the death of Alysande Stuart, as well as the female mercenaries who had served as her shock troops during her attack on Excalibur. But they had both failed to defeat the Captain and his friends, so now she had made sure that she had her own metahumans to counteract their powers. Now all that Sat-Yr-9 needed was information on the whereabouts and status of Excalibur.

At that moment, the buzzer sounded. "Come in." She leant back in her chair, projecting an aura of power and confidence. Her subordinate, a rather short, thin man with thinning hair, came in and stood before her desk, saluting. The former world ruler felt a glow of pride at the fact that those who served her feared her wrath so much. "What is it, King?"

"Ma'am, we have received information about the whereabouts of Excalibur. According to our mole within UNIT, the team are using Braddock Manor as their base. The roster is currently said to be Captain Britain, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Meggan, Wolfsbane and Psylocke. Do you want us to place the Manor under observation, ma'am?"

Sat-Yr-9 sat back and thought for a while, letting her subordinate stew. < After all, I own him, as I do all of those who serve me, and there is no reason why I should make a snap decision just to satisfy one of my servants. After a while, she shook her head. "No. With a telepath on the team, there is too much likelihood that she may pick up the thoughts of the watcher - "

"But, ma'am!" The man quailed under the glare she shot him, but went on, "why not use a remote camera to gather information? There's no need for anyone to remain close by at all times - the operator could be in a van a block or more away, especially a van screened against psychic scans. They could ascertain numbers and identities, and gather any other information required, at no risk of discovery."

The beautiful otherworldly dictator sat in thought for a few seconds, then made up her mind. "Yes, do so, King. Make sure that there are cameras to cover all access points to the manor, so that we have comprehensive coverage. Oh, and King?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Never interrupt me again, understood?"

"Y-yes ma'am!"

*********************************************

Belasco screamed in rage and hate as the gateway opened by Doctor Strange began to swirl and the first of those called by the Sorcerer Supreme stepped through. Angels, that was the way that best described them to Brian. Beautiful feminine figures in shining armour, with great white wings and flaming swords held ready for battle. Devas they were, called from their home on the higher planes of existence. Called forth to fight the demons of Belasco. Which they began to do with great relish.

The demon-mage snarled his hate, but then smiled. "You may think me defeated, heroes, but I have what I wanted!" With that, he cast a spell, and the would-be rescuers watched in horror as both Belasco and Kitty vanished from their sight, leaving the still form of Amanda behind.

Still laughing inside, the mage chanted the runes of power to transport himself and his captive to the home plane of the Elder Gods, his dreaded masters. He failed to see Kitty begin to stir as consciousness slowly returned to her. Without thinking, the young woman used her phasing power to make herself as intangible as possible, even before she'd opened her eyes. The effect was catastrophic. For some reason, her mutant power interfaced with the teleportation spell being used by Belasco, disrupting it. The demon-mage screamed in agony as his own power was turned against him, his body feeling as if his bones had turned to molten lead. He struggled to control the power, but it was too late. The figure of Katherine Pryde faded from his sight, her body continuing to travel to ........ somewhere.

*********************************************