X-MEN ETERNITY

X-Force #6: "I'll Be Seeing You"
|Rated PG-13 for violence and language

by R. John Burke
X-Men Eternity Message Board: http://solofan.proboards76.com/index.cgi

DISCLAIMER: The X-Men are a copyright of Marvel Comics. I don't own them, but this is only non-profit fan fiction. No money is involved and no infringement is intended.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: X-Men Eternity started (in Uncanny #1: The Shattering) with the events at the end of "House of M" and went in a different direction. "X-Force: Eternity" is a series following the adventures of a group of X-Men who are now trapped in the past during an alternate World War II.

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Betsy Braddock's first thought was: *I don't believe it. Something's finally killed him.*

Late Spring, 1942
Outside Vilnius, Lithuania, Along the Neris River
Alternate Reality #758

The man on the ground before her looked like he'd jumped into a pit full of razor blades. His features were hard to distinguish, and the ground was wet with his blood. In places, the metal of his adamantium skeleton showed *through* the skin, gleaming in the moonlight.

But Logan's 100-year career as the Wolverine wasn't over *quite* yet. His chest moved up and down, if fitfully. When she probed his mind, Betsy felt a faint glimmer of brain activity. Logan had healed from worse, with his healing factor at full strength.

It wasn't that now. It was performing at about half-effectiveness, since Betsy had stolen a bit of it to heal Piotr Rasputin-- Colossus-- from deadly injuries. (* last issue) Betsy didn't know if it could save his life or not. She did know another attack would finish him.

Someone started laughing: Not just a chuckle, a full-throated, manic laugh. The laugh of a mind slightly unhinged. Betsy whirled, clumsily groping with her restored telepathy...

Nightcrawler crouched on a tree limb above her head, still laughing his head off at the little man's body. He flipped down so that he was hanging off the limb by his tail, swinging right toward Betsy's face: "Boo!"

She flinched. Then she felt the familiar darkness from his mind, the same she'd evicted from Kitty Pryde earlier. (* X-Force #4) "Not Kurt, I presume."

A triple-flip later, the creature crouched on the ground before her. "How could you tell? I know-- it's the demon look. He never seemed very comfortable in it. You must admit, it's just right for me."

"What have you done to Logan?"

"What haven't I?" The entity called the Slayer gave her Kurt's most dashing smile. "Simply 'ported him around the block a few times, give or take the proverbial pound of flesh. The fool never saw it coming. That's what you get for trusting your nose."

"You'll pay for that," Betsy said.

"I await your convenience, m'lady, if you'd care to teach me my lesson."

Betsy manifested her psychic knife instead of the katana. If she could get a clear shot at his head... but Kurt was *so* nimble, and he danced from side to side, almost taunting her...

She lunged. He flipped over her head, kicking her between the shoulder blades and knocking her down. She rolled over, but he was on top of her, oversized fingers pinning her wrists. Kurt's face leered down at her.

"Come, Elisabeth. You can do better than that."

She started to throw him off, but-- BAMF!-- he was gone, reappearing next to Logan.

"Get away from him!" Betsy cried, rolling to her feet.

"Ahh, such concern. Could there be romance in bloom among the uncanny X-Men? Don't reply, I have seen your mind-- I *know* it all. But I must say, I never would have put you two together. It's just not *done* in the Multiverse. Jean, Mariko, Storm, certainly. Mystique, Rogue, or Heather Hudson, why not? Jubilee-- distasteful as it seems-- occasionally. There's one reality where he has a child with Elektra, if you can believe that. Our friend Logan gets around. But *you?* You really surprised me with that one, Elisabeth."

"I have more interesting surprises in store for you," said Betsy, and she *pushed* with her teke.

WHAM! Nightcrawler's body was steamrolled, thrown almost as far as the river before-- BAMF! He reappeared behind her. Betsy was ready, and hit him with a high kick that would have broken his jaw if she hadn't gone easy for Kurt's sake. He was stunned, and she swept with her knife...

Yellow eyes stared into hers. Darkness chewed at her brain. She stopped in mid-swing.

"Sorry, leibling. Can't let you have this body yet. I'm having too much fun with it."

Betsy struggled, fought, swore inwardly. She couldn't go further. She couldn't even move. And then, not of her own accord, she started backing up.

"Do you know why I only *almost* killed him, Elisabeth?" Kurt said, almost conversationally

"Stop calling me Elisabeth, you nasty little git!"

"I did not kill him because I wished for you to have the honor."

Betsy found herself standing over Logan's body. With every once of her will, she fought, but still her trembling arms started to raise above her head.

"I will not!"

“Won't you?” Kurt grinned. “You don't think you're still invulnerable to psychic invasion? Old powers, dear, old weaknesses. Besides... I never invade. It's rude. I only offer the irresistible compulsion to do what you want to do.”

Despite herself, Betsy manifested her katana. She barely stopped it from swinging down to sever Logan's head. Instead, it crept downward slowly, by degrees.

“This is not me!” she snarled. “*No* part of me would kill my friend.”

“Wouldn't you? Not even that tiny part of yourself that does not think? That knows only rage, desire, and fear? You generally kill your men slowly. Wouldn't it be nice to get it over with?”

Betsy felt like she was holding back the ocean tide with a sieve. Her arms wanted so badly to move. Panic flooded her, making it hard to access her own power. She had to be calm, to think. How could she, when her thoughts were not her own?

The leering face didn't make it easier. “Not your own, Elisabeth? You do me too much credit. This is *you*. This is what you want to be. A warrior, a merciless killer. Anything else is... too vulnerable. You're a creature of passion, but always on your own terms. You cannot allow another the power, even for a moment. Worthington understood; that's why he left you. Shaara would have been more of the same.”

That last jab was intentional, and Betsy almost lost her last shred of control at the guilt it provoked: *Neal. With all that's happened, I haven't thought about him in... I thought I felt something, I ruined things with Warren over it, and then I sodding -forgot- him?*

“You see?” said Kurt, goading her. “Well, you were dead, after all. Even *I'll* cut you some slack for that one.”

Sweat stood out on Betsy's brow. Her katana was mere inches from Logan's neck. Still the quiet, accented voice droned out of the dark:

“*Freedom.* That's your desire. Don't be ashamed of it. You're a predator, nothing less.”

“Like Logan,” Betsy said.

“Indeed, he is much the same. Do you know what happens when a couple of predators get too close? They kill each other.”

Her katana pressed down against the flesh of Logan's neck. Betsy would have screamed with the effort of holding back, but she couldn't even do that. She could only watch as a drop of Logan's blood welled up under her blade. She felt so weary. Her muscles rebelled.

“Forgive-- ha!” she said, suddenly grinning.

The Slayer twisted Kurt's face in a comical manner. “'Ha?' What are you...?

Then he noticed the dim silhouette next to his in the firelight. Apparently, even a possessed Kurt still thought in German, for he muttered as he turned:

“*Himmel donner wetter*... *Verdammt* Russian peasant, you have no idea how sick I am of--”

BAM! Kurt's body went flying through the air, too stunned to 'port this time, and landed on the riverbank. His hold broken, Betsy pulled back her katana with a gasp.

Piotr Rasputin charged out of the woods, moonlight reflected off his organic-steel armor. As an apparently magickal being, the Slayer did not enjoy the touch of metal. By possessing Kitty, it had convinced Piotr to drop his guard once. (In #4) Piotr would not make that mistake again.

"You nearly killed Katya. You nearly killed *me*. But, monster, Colossus LIVES! And by all I hold dear, you will come to regret each breath!"

The entity in Kurt's body tried to rise. Piotr uprooted a small tree and threw it at him. Betsy wondered if he was actually killing mad as-- BAMF!-- the Slayer reappeared in the trees above their heads. Piotr began methodically knocking them down.

The Slayer fell on his shoulders. The right 'port could damage even Colossus. But Piotr grabbed the smaller man from his back and smashed him into the ground, then backhanded him, snapping his head back. A bit more strength would have taken his head *off*.

"Piotr, hold him still!" Betsy shouted, going back to her knife. The big man complied, pressing Kurt against the ground. Betsy steeled herself to evict this creature, as she had before...

"Wait!" said a new voice. "Look..."

The voice belonged to Kitty Pryde. She'd followed Piotr out of the woods, and was now pointing at Kurt's barbed tail... which had wound around Piotr's waist.

Kurt's face grinned at them. "Go on. Use your knife, Elisabeth. I invite you to use it. Then watch me 'port him in half."

Piotr's expression didn't change. "Do it, Betsy. You must."

"No!" said Kitty. She ran forward. "Pete, you're not the one he's here for... is he?"

She addressed the last two words to the Slayer/Kurt, who grinned, showing a mouthful of bloody teeth. "Intelligent girl. Ja, katzschen-- you're right. I never quite finished with you."

"You are finished *now*," Piotr said, drawing back his fist.

"Piotr, no! You'll kill Kurt!"

Betsy growled in back of her throat. “Kitten, if it's the only way...”

“Not yet.” Kitty glowered at the monster who'd taken her friend. “I won't accept that yet.”

"Katya, please--"

"Let 'im go, Pete! There'll be a better way. Trust me."

Colossus looked to Betsy for confirmation. She arched an eyebrow. At this moment, Betsy wanted only to fillet the Slayer, in whichever body-- for what it had done to Logan, and Kurt, and especially for the filth it had planted in her mind. She saw nothing else, no other option-- but Kitty did, and in her present state, Betsy didn't trust herself to make this call. So they'd play it out, although it went against her instincts.

Grudgingly, Piotr released the Slayer, allowed it to reclaim Kurt's tail, and stepped back. The entity climbed shakily to its feet-- as though it feared its limbs wouldn't work right. When it found they all did, it held out a hand to Kitty.

The girl sighed. "Yeah, coming."

"Katya!" Piotr said again, stepping between them--

"*Trust* me," Kitty said. She turned to Betsy. "Take care of the old man, huh? Tell him thanks for everything."

Betsy nodded, adding via psi-link: *Say the word and we'll fight it out.*

Kitty shook her head fractionally and squared her shoulders. She and Piotr gawked at each other for a moment. Then they both started talking at once:

"I--"

"I wish to--"

"I hope you know--"

"I cannot bear--"

They both trailed off. The possessed Kurt snorted. Kitty glared at him, then turned back to Piotr--

But she didn't get the chance to speak. He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her deeply, holding her tight, an embrace that seemed to last forever. When they separated:

"I love you," Piotr said. "Nothing else matters."

"Remember that," Kitty said, stroking his cheek. "I'm comin' back."

They parted with obvious reluctance. Kitty took a long step around Piotr, into arms rightfully belonging to Kurt Wagner. The Slayer softly laughed.

“Indeed you shall return, *katzschen*... You're a most efficient method of killing your friends.”

Kitty's took his hand like he was diseased. “Sadistic creep, you can absolutely kiss my--”

BAMF!

They were gone, the scent of brimstone trailing after them. Alone in the sudden quiet, Betsy and Piotr shared a disheartened look.

"What do we do now?" the big man asked.

"We do what we can for Logan," Betsy said. “And we pray Kitty knows what she's doing.”

Colossus didn't look happy about that. Betsy wasn't either, but she consoled herself by remembering one of the Slayer's more interesting thoughts:

*A predator, am I? Very well, if you insist. We'll see how you like being the prey.*

****

London

The city was burning... again.

Alison Blaire, the Dazzler, took a moment out of her schedule of digging through rubble to curse Hitler, the Red Skull, the bad guys from "The Sound of Music," and any other Nazis she could remember. Unfortunately, she couldn't remember a lot. If she'd known she was going to wind up in the 1940's, she wouldn't have spent all her time in high school history drawing her name alongside Tommy McCormick's and doodling hearts around them.

(Now, if the X-Men ever got menaced by famous lawyers, Alison might have been more helpful. Sometimes she *still* had nightmares about all the pre-law crap her father had shoved down her throat...)

She sighed. "On the other hand, if I was a lawyer, at least I could sue these morons."

A hand fell on her shoulder. She thought it was Longshot, her partner in crime-- or the stopping thereof-- who was using his uncanny luck to help locate survivors a block away. Alison alternated between using her powers to calm the ones he found and to provide quick illumination for less fortunate searchers. Sometimes, like everyone else, she got her hands dirty. She *hated* getting her hands dirty. As a child, she'd run screaming from the other children's mud pies.

But it wasn't a dirty hand touching her now. It was a gloved one, attached to a uniform with the Union Jack prominently displayed, and the most gorgeous pair of eyes Alison thought she'd ever seen. Justin Braddock, this Universe's Captain Britain. (* remember X-Force #1?) Since he was presumably related to Betsy and Brian Braddock, although the former didn't remember him, Alison assumed there was equally gorgeous blond hair under the mask. She'd once made a bet with Kitty Pryde: Ten pounds to whoever charmed the mask off Captain Britain. Alison knew the bet favored her, since Kitty had a boyfriend and her best weapons were thus off the table, but all's fair...

(Of course that was before the return of Longshot, with his almost-as-gorgeous looks and innocent charm. But all that was *way* too complicated for Ali to think about...)

"Cap!" she said, foregoing drama. "You startled me!"

"My apologies, Miss Blaire. May I be of assistance?

"Uh-- no, I think we've got this one." Ali glanced at the guy in charge of the rescue effort and got confirmation. "But stick around, huh? An extra costume can't hurt."

Justin's lip twisted. "Alas, Britain does not suffer from an excess of heroes. Dash it all, Miss Blaire, when's the high command going to stop mucking about and expand the Super-Soldier program? Erm... pardon my language. It's been a difficult night."

Alison almost giggled. If this guy thought she'd be offended by 'dash it all,' he'd obviously never shared a flat with Wolverine.

"I guess we have to--" She stopped, remembering something she'd wanted to ask. "Actually, Cap, I'm glad I ran into you. An American soldier saved my life in the fight earlier. (* last issue) He was hurt-- I've been trying to find out if anyone knows how he is, but everything's so confused. These people listen to you. Could you make some inquiries?"

"Not a great many Yanks about-- present company delightfully excepted, of course. Shouldn't be too difficult. Fear not, Miss Blair, we shall find your soldier."

She grinned-- at the old-fashioned manner as much as the helpfulness. "Thanks, Cap. I really owe the guy, and--"

Captain Britain frowned. "What *is* that?"

Alison squinted at a dark shape, flipping and spinning with gymnastic ease across the tops of the distant buildings, almost like a War-era Spider-Man. "Huh-- could be Longshot."

"Or another Skull. Shall we have a look?"

The guy running the crew gestured for Alison to go. She wrapped her arms around Captain Britain's shoulders-- thought *Okay, somebody's been working out*-- and let him fly her up to the nearest roof. She expected the dark shape to run away when it saw them, but it only hurried forward. Alison readied a dazzle-blast...

"TJ!"

Talia Josephine Wagner-- Nocturne, the daughter of their acting leader, Kurt, came hurtling across the last rooftop, spinning in midair and landing on her feet. She'd learned her father's skills well. She'd also been frightened out of her wits, and Ali could see a distinct red stain spreading across the stomach area of the hosptial gown she wore. She was supposed to be recovering from a gunshot wound. (* X-Force #3)

"TJ, are you crazy? You've popped your stitches!"

Nocturne nearly collapsed into Justin's arms. "Slayer... my dad... zapped Celeste and Magneto. (* last issue) We've gotta... I can't..."

"Okay, okay, calm down." Alison helped her out of the big man's arms and hugged her. "Cap, would you find Longshot? I think we just got blitzed."

"Yes, of course." Justin Braddock made a face. "This is an outrage! Preying on innocent young women!"

"Who you callin' innocent?" TJ panted.

"What sort of villain is this you're facing, Miss Blaire?"

Alison looked out across the rooftops, at the smoke obscuring the stars. "Swear to high Heaven, Cap, I wish I knew..."

****

*WOLVIE!*

"Jubilation...?"

The man who had been James Howlett, later Logan, and finally Wolverine was pretty sure he was supposed to be dead. He'd been surprised by his teammate Kurt Wagner, who smelled right and looked right and sounded right, but the moment he'd started to ask how the hell Kurt got halfway across Europe, he'd found himself 'porting through the guts of the Universe without his seatbelt.

So endeth a short and ill-fated experiment in turning a rabid animal in a leader of the X-Men. Logan didn't mind *so* much, except for leaving his friends; it wasn't as bad as the way he'd figured he'd go, and now maybe he'd have peace.

But that didn't explain why he was hallucinating Jubilee. He could have sworn he heard her calling to him, as if across a very great distance. He even thought he saw her, looking out of a dark hallway.

Then Jubes was eclipsed by a brilliant light, a Light at the End of the Tunnel deal, even brighter in his mind than that time he and Jeannie had crashed into the sun. Logan stared at it in fascination.

*Well, damn,* he thought. *Kurt was right. Guess I owe him a beer, even if he *did* kill me...*

The light resolved itself into the form of a beautiful blonde clad-- and barely clad-- in white. She seemed to beckon him...

Logan laughed out loud. "Emma Frost? If *you're* welcomin' me, darlin, this place is gonna be more fun than I figured..."

His angel of mercy sneered. "Don't be absurd, Logan. You're not dead. I'm contacting you through a dimensional space-time rift in the basement of the Massachusetts Academy."

"Sorry," said Logan. "Here I thought it was gonna be somethin' weird..."

That got him a smile. "It's a long story, but Jubilee and I have gone to a lot of trouble to open this portal (* see Uncanny X-Men #5-6) and bring you home. I must say I was hoping to find you in better condition. You're not doing very well for yourself."

He grunted. "Just a couple of scratches, nothin' to worry about."

Emma arched an eyebrow. "You're speaking to a telepath, remember. You're an insufferable braggart, Logan, and I admire that-- but the truth is you're barely alive and your healing factor's off its mark. You're going to be in a great deal of pain if you ever wake up to feel it."

"Yeah," he agreed. "How's my team doing?"

"Even worse. We've been observing here-- I'm sorry we couldn't interfere, but I'm still learning to control this thing across time. The Slayer's taken Nightcrawler and Miss Pryde and wounded at least two of the others."

"Betsy?"

"She's--" Emma trailed off, amused. "Well. *There's* an emotion I wasn't expecting."

"Even longer story. I need the situation, Emma. Help me out."

She flash-fed the images into his mind-- The Slayer's attack on Betsy, Piotr's rampage, and Kitty's decision. Logan snarled something vicious when she'd finished.

"Great. She's goin' after it."

Emma frowned. "Meaning...?"

"Kitty thinks she can get it alone an' hurt it. She's *way* over her head."

"Agreed, *if* that's her intention. It would be rather rash."

"Trust me," said Logan. "I helped raise that kid, an' sometimes she's a chip off the old block. She's goin' after it. She'll take her shot an' it won't work."

The frown changed to a smirk. "Perhaps. Our kitten *does* have claws. I ought to know. All right-- I'll have Colossus bring you home, we'll regroup--"

"No time." Logan sharpened his claws. Didn't do a lot of good, just in his mind. "I got a hunch how to find the Slayer in this reality. It's Kitty's best shot."

He could feel Emma's disapproval. "Speaking of being in over your head..."

"He ain't gettin' that kid. Kurt, either. D'you think I wasted hours sparrin' with the elf 'cause I liked him buyin' the beer? Okay, I did, but I also put a lotta work into trainin' him up right." He held her eyes. "They trusted me to lead 'em, Emma. What if it was your girls?"

Emma's lip twitched. He didn't think she'd yield, and if she chose to have Pete drag him back home, there wasn't a lot he could do about it.

But she said, "What do you need?"

Logan took a deep breath. "Celeste... did a thing when TJ was hurt. Where she blocked the pain from her mind, kept her on her feet, even though she was half-dead. (* X-Force #4) Said it was one o' your tricks. Can you do that for me?"

The White Queen stared for a long moment. "Logan-- what part of 'you are clinging to life by a thread' do you fail to understand?"

"I think I got the gist. Can you patch up my brain so I'll last a while?"

"A *little* while," Emma stressed. "You *might* survive 'till morning-- after that, it's a healer or a grave. And Logan, Jubilee and I cannot wait for you. We have three other teams to retrieve."

Logan nodded. "Let me worry about that."

"This is not a good idea. I suppose you know Scott will be livid..."

"Stop talkin' me into it, darlin'. Give Jubes my love. Don't tell her this."

Emma snorted. "Oh, I'll let you surprise her. She ought to look well in black."

"That's why I love ya, Ems... we're a coupla optimists. Now, hit me."

The white light grew even more brilliant, swallowing his mind, casting him back down into his physical body, which was in torment-- and then, suddenly, the pain stepped away. Didn't vanish. Just ... removed itself a little ways, not so Logan could forget it, but enough for him to think about other things at the same time. His eyelids fluttered open. He was almost surprised. Part of him had thought he was dreaming.

Betsy and Pete looked miserable, like somebody'd just drunk the last keg of good Canadian brew and left them a Miller Lite.

"C'mon," he grunted. "Stuff ain't *that* bad."

"Logan!" Betsy dropped to her knees beside him. "Record time, even for you! I-- we feared the worst."

"Me, too." Logan popped his claws. "Gonna cause some trouble now. Wanna come with?"

****

BAMF!

The 'port had been rougher than usual-- a lot rougher, and longer, as though they were traveling a billion times the usual distance. Maybe they were. It disoriented Kitty Pryde so badly, she couldn't tell where she was-- she knew it was someplace that smelled bad, but that didn't help her much, because anyplace Kurt 'ported ended up smelling bad.

But *this* place didn't get any better as the brimstone cleared away. It started dark and dank and only got worse. The walls were of stone, dripping wet and decorated with tapestries that didn't really serve to hide the mold.

"Is this a *castle?*" Kitty asked. "I figured we'd go back with the Nazis."

"I deplore the Nazis. Even I can only take so much of them."

"Yeah, but is this actually a freaking--"

"Ja. It's not much, but I call it home."

"So what now? Lock me in a tower? Do I get to braid my hair really long an' throw it out the window?"

"What a waste that would be of beautiful hair," said the leering face. In the shadowy chamber, Kurt almost disappeared, leaving only yellow eyes to stare at her. "Kurt Wagner always thought you were so lovely, katzchen-- shall I tell you some of his more interesting thoughts?"

"Shut up," Kitty murmured.

"Quickly repressed, of course. He would never admit them. The virtuous man cannot be seen to lust after his best friend's woman. Perhaps I should allow him to act on--"

"Shut UP!" Kitty repeated. "You knew nothin' about me an' you know less about Kurt! You think just because you can put the worst possible spin on some fleeting thoughts, you *know* us? That's like judging a dog by its fleas! *I* know the X-Men. I've seen them almost every day since I was a kid, fighting these incredible odds to build a better world--"

"On the bones of others, leibling." The Slayer/Kurt growled. "Argh. This German is getting annoying. Time for a change-- it won't do to run my errands in this condition."

Before Kitty could object, he took her hand and-- BAMF!-- they were in an even darker chamber, standing on an illuminated platform in the middle of nothingness. Then, like lights coming on in a movie theater, row after row of statues appeared, illuminated by some internal radiance. But when Kitty looked closer, she saw they weren't statues...

They were X-Men. Most X-Men were represented at least a couple of times, although they didn't always look like the ones Kitty remembered. There were even a couple of her-- still, ashen, eyes wide with anger or horror.

"What in the world...?"

Kurt's body took its place among the inner row of statues, in-between Rogue and Chamber. Next to *them* was Ororo, then a pinkish mutant Kitty didn't know. (* but you'd know if you read "Uncanny.") There were also a couple of spaces left conspicuously empty.

The shadow of the Slayer drifted out of Kurt; he remained in place, now part of the exhibit. The shadows reformed in the shape of a man-- talk, clad in black, with intense, dark eyes.

"What in *all* the worlds, Katherine Pryde. You questioned my knowledge of the X-Men. There are but a few of the ones I have met."

"Okay," Kitty said. "You are officially a really sick puppy."

"Oh, do not begrudge me my trophies. Do you know how many times you've killed me, kitten? You personally, not counting your teammates? Eleven. Oh, sometimes you're not Kitty-- sometimes you're Kate Pryde. Or Kate Rasputin. Or just Shadowcat. Sometimes you're still using a name like Ariel or Sprite. You're almost always acting for the greater good-- but, once or twice, for the fun of it. And you're not even in the lead. Wolverine and Cyclops are into triple digits.

"That's the fun of perceiving the Multiverse. We have fought thousands of times, Katherine. We are arch-enemies, from the beginning to the end of time. Killing you comes naturally. It's not *my* fault you think you've only met me once."

"Once was enough." Kitty frowned at him. "Don't recognize this guy, though."

The tall man gestured at himself. "A relic of my old life, when I was limited, like you. It's still the most comfortable thing I own. They call me Merlin here. Hence the castle. (* see "eXcalibur" series.) Funny, eh?"

"No, it's stupid. Ripping off Arthurian legend is even dumber than ripping off Buffy."

He frowned at her. "Who is this Buffy you all seem to know?"

"Never mind. Doesn't matter. Eleven times, huh?"

"Indeed."

"Well... that sucks."

He grinned. "Didn't think you had it in you? The darkness, Katherine, is no mere clutter at the corner of your mind. It's the thing you carry with you throughout the realities. It's how I always find you."

"No," said Kitty, tensing up. "I meant, it sucks that I'm so far behind. I really need to round it off at a dozen."

The Slayer looked surprised for half a second when she struck, phasing as she did and reaching for his chest. But he didn't even bother to move, and she phased right *into* him. Into... nothingness. She could feel him pressing against her mind again. He shouldn't have been able to do that when she was phased! She kicked and struggled, but only seemed to sink further.

*No FAIR!* she thought. *When you give a gal a free shot at your physical form, it oughta actually -be- a physical form!*

--Oh, it is,-- the Slayer chuckled. --But you've never met in person. From the moment we entered this room, we've been inside my mind. All that was just your subconscious representation of the X-Men I've taken. I thought you knew that. You don't think I -actually- keep the dead bodies of my enemies lying around, do you?--

*I REALLY hate you,* Kitty told it, struggling against sticky blackness that seemed to dissolve her mind and body out from under her. She could feel the Slayer's pleasure, but before he could add her to the collection of trophies, something caught his attention. He laughed.

*He never gives up. He -never- gives up. No wonder he kills me sometimes.*

All at once, Kitty realized what he meant. She thought: *Logan, NO!"

But nobody heard her.

****

The white-hot portal opened and closed, dispensing X-Men until Logan's allies stood in a semicircle, their faces silhouetted in firelight: Psylocke, Colossus, Nocturne, Dazzler, and Longshot, plus the astral form of Emma Frost.

Logan lit his cigar in the fire-- it burned his lungs, like every movement burned his muscles. But they expected him to smoke, and he didn't want anyone to suspect he wasn't up to this. He looked at each of them in turn.

"I'm goin' back into Vilnius," he said. "The Slayer's got some gear that's feeding him power. I figure if we smash it, we can weaken him, an' maybe get our friends back. Ain't gonna tell ya it'll be easy. Ain't gonna tell ya it'll work. I *am* tellin' ya that if you have any doubts, you oughta leave with Emma right now. No shame in that. It's the smart move."

The group shifted uncomfortably, didn't know where to look. Emma peered at them, all but expecting them to fold.

TJ cleared her throat. "Screw the Multiverse. Kurt's my father. Try and make me leave."

"I have seen the face of this monster," Piotr said. "He is not so fearsome."

Logan nodded. He'd expected those two. He turned in Dazzler's direction. "What about you, Ali? This is your chance. Your public's waitin' for ya, darlin'."

"Well..." Alison cleared her throat. "I have a bet going with the kid. I should stick around."

"Alison speaks for all of us," Betsy said, addressing the words to Emma.

The White Queen sounded surprised when she turned to their leader: "Well. You *have* assembled a team, Logan. Congratulations-- and good luck."

She disappeared. The others milled around, until Ali announced she was taking a short walk, and Longshot went with her. TJ and Peter went off to brood. Betsy approached Logan:

"Are you certain you're alright? You're not healing."

"Sure I am."

"No, you're still bleeding. Even at half-speed, your healing factor should have closed your cuts by now."

"I'm fine," Logan said. "Trust me, Betts."

"Always. I--" She frowned. "When this is over, we should talk."

"Wouldn't miss that." A spasm of pain he could barely conceal wracked Logan. He stomped out his cigar, put some distance between them, and didn't look back.

****

Baron Heinrich Zemo was having a bad week. He'd lost a city, his most prominent ally, his special projects, and many of his best soldiers. He charged into his commandeered Vilnius office with these in mind, and then the day got worse:

His SS aide said, "Freiherr, der Schädelfuhrer-- the Red Skull-- awaits on the telephone. He wishes to discuss his upcoming--"

"Tell him I'm not available."

The boy looked blank. "But-- he'll have me killed!"

"Good!"

Zemo stormed into his office and slammed the door, brooding-- until the shadows around his desk coalesced into a familiar shape...

--Baron Zemo. I know you're upset that our partnership has yet to bear the hoped-for fruits. But take heart: Wait until you see who is coming to visit... us.--

****

In a small room with a locked door, the man who'd been called Magneto sat cross-legged beside the bed of a dying child.

He wasn't called much at the moment-- he'd been possessed by the Slayer, his mind and power used against the X-Men-- against Talia Wagner, who was, in a sense, his blood. (* last issue) He'd extended his hand to burn the flesh of Celeste Cuckoo, who had tried to interfere, and she would probably die. The Slayer left him exhausted and broken. When the British and Americans found him, barely conscious, he'd used the last of his strength in a rage and demanded to stay. Since they didn't know what to do with him, they allowed him to stand guard. He would remain with Celeste until the end.

He was many things, Magneto, but no murderer of mutant children.

So confused were his thoughts in this state that he didn't believe the vision in white standing beside the girl's bed was real, until it reached out towards Celeste's face.

"Oh, my darling, I saw it all in his mind. You were so very noble. I'd have thought I taught you better."

Magneto's lip twisted in surprise. "What the devil are you doing here, Miss Frost?"

The unlikely headmistress of Xavier's-- or her astral form-- turned with anger in her blue eyes. "Funny, I was an angel last time. People seem to be reacting strangely to me today. As to what I'm doing... recruiting, actually. Logan needs help."

"I can't imagine Wolverine wanting *my* help."

"Well, no. This was my idea. Remember back to the Hellfire Club, Erik. You know what this creature is." (* if you don't, read Uncanny #6)

Magneto made a face. "I try not to recall the days of our association. I was... not myself."

"No, indeed. You almost did something useful. You and Selene combined your powers to open this lovely wormhole across dimensions. I'm hoping you can open another."

Magneto did remember. He'd known since hosting the Slayer in his mind. He'd been trying not to think about it. "Yes. At Tessa's behest. I later attributed it to one of Charles' eccentric schemes to save the Universe. Doesn't appear to be working, does it?"

"That may depend on you."

Something about her face... he climbed unsteadily to his feet, feeling old. "What are you asking me, Miss Frost?"

"I cannot help them. Perhaps you--"

He shook his head. "Not possible. Without Selene's aid, that kind of--"

"The Slayer's reality warp might be sufficient."

"It is not!"

"Too much of a challenge?" Emma sneered. "Look at you, the Master of Magnetism. Where's your sodding backbone? One little demon violates your mind and suddenly you're all atwitter? Poor dear. Perhaps you should take up knitting if--"

"THIS IS ALL THAT REMAINS OF ME!" Anger summoned Magneto's power. The metal in the room trembled. "I destroyed my children. That lunatic Xorn destroyed my name. The humans destroyed my nation. The Nazis broke my body and the Slayer, my very soul. I am *nothing* now."

"Then remember what you were."

Magneto hesitated. "Once, I was... I *meant* something. Perhaps I was hated-- but I was hated for my strength, my clarity of vision. I meant every word I ever said to my people."

"Yes," Emma agreed. "I wonder what they'd think of you now?"

"I--" Magneto sighed. "It's over, Miss Frost. I've failed. What would you do, in my place?"

"I'd reclaim what was mine," said the White Queen. She smirked. "You know, you're really not much of a super-villain if I have to *tell* you that..."

****

Vilnius, Lithuania

Every nerve ending hurt. That was nothing new, but the throbbing seemed to get worse with each passing instant. Whatever Emma had done was wearing off.

Logan forced himself to stay in the *now*, listening to the birds chirp in the early dawn, smelling the wet grass, feeling his boots crunch against the ground as his team slipped into Vilnius. Inside, concealed like a wolf among sheep in a Jewish ghetto, was a Nazi installation where Baron Zemo did his work for his employers-- and for the Slayer.

He cut their way through a barbed wire fence and hustled the team through. Longshot came last, and Logan stopped him.

"Which way?"

"Left feels good," said the boy, so they disappeared around the left side of the building. They got there just as a German soldier was ducking out a door that would otherwise have been secured. Betsy knocked the fellow out, and they hurried inside

After several minutes of dodging footsteps, Logan called a halt near the stairwell. "Just me an' Pete from here. Our metal oughta keep the Slayer from possessing us. The rest a' you, form a line. Nobody gets past."

"Do I get issued a bayonet?" Alison asked.

Logan was already moving. Betsy called his name as he descended; he looked up and saw her concern, wondering if she'd pried into his mind.

*I'm FINE,* he sent, via psi-link.

*Idiot,* she replied, which he supposed could mean any number of things.

He and Pete kept going until they reached the lowest level. One steel fist and a couple of claws made short work of the guards, and they found themselves again in Zemo's laboratory, where they'd rescued Kitty only yesterday (* last two issues). Piotr shuddered when he passed the spot where the Slayer, in her body, had gutted him. Logan pulled him toward the anachronistic bank of equipment lining one wall.

"No time to be subtle, Pete. We're just sayin' hello. Smash it good."

"Da," said the Russian. "When he comes--"

"Keep smashin' till I tell ya to stop."

Piotr squeezed both hands into massive fists, reached over his head, and-- WHAM!-- brought them down repeatedly on the equipment, until it bent and buckled and sparked. Logan centered himself, breathed deeply, and waited. It wasn't even a minute before he scented people in the corridor outside.

SNIKT. Logan stepped forward...

Half a dozen Skulls stepped into the room. By the markings on their uniforms, Logan guessed they were Mark II's-- the ones Pete had tangled with during his solo mission (* issue #4), as strong as him. Fun.

Their leader snapped his fingers. Three of the Skulls drifted in Piotr's direction and two hung back, leaving one to approach Logan. His eyes glittered black.

"Guessin' you ain't a real Nazi," Logan said.

"Are you kidding?" It said in a taunting voice. "Just being in this brain makes me want to shower. Do you really want to do this, Wolverine? You haven't the slightest chance. I can sense your pain, you know-- you're *dead*, little man. You're a walking, talking corpse."

"'Least I don't talk as much as you," Logan said, and struck.

The Skull was unbelievably fast. His claws missed its throat, but it caught him in the stomach with a boot. Logan fell to his knees, tried to roll away, but got clipped by a punch and thrown into the wall.

"TOVARISCH!" Piotr cried, and charged to his aid, but two Skulls held him back and the third started pounding him.

Logan found his feet. "You got a couple of folks who belong to us. You give 'em back, this doesn't have to go so bad."

The Slayer laughed. "Are you offering me *terms?*"

"No, I'm offerin' to kill ya quick."

"I won't return the favor."

BAM! Its fist dented the wall above Logan's head. He ducked and aimed both sets of claws at the Slayer's gut, but it caught his wrists and lifted him off the ground. Someplace very far away, he could hear Pete struggling.

"Anything to say?"

"Where's Kurt an' Kitty?"

"I'm using them," it said, nodding toward the smashed electronics. "You think *that* weakens me? The machines, the pawns like Zemo-- all for the beginning stages. Now, thanks to your friends' power, I can have my own fun. I've got them all in here, Logan." It tapped the Nazi's head. "Would you like to talk to them? How about Rogue? Feel like tusslin' with Rogue, sugah?"

WHAM! It pounded Logan against the wall with every bit of Rogue's strength.

"How 'bout Chamber, eh, mate? Fancy 'avin' a go with him?"

ZRAAAAK! It hit Logan between the eyes with a psionic energy burst. The world exploded in a red haze of pain.

"Oh, here's one you don't even know: Blink of the Exiles. Watch."

The Slayer threw him across the room. Logan was about to hit the wall, when--

BLINK! He appeared in front of Petey as the Russian was fighting his way free. They slammed into each other and went down hard. The other Skulls pulled Piotr away and went back to work on him. Logan made one, two, three halting attempts to rise...

"Yes, and Ororo! You like Ororo, don't you, Wolverine? You *must* say hello to her..."

...POW! A stream of hail and freezing wind struck him head-on. He slid across the room, hardly able to breathe and his lungs and heart betrayed him.

"You stupid-- little-- freak!" the Slayer said, stalking him. "I wouldn't absorb you if I *could!* Your only useful power is the ability to swill beer!"

"Keep talkin', bub. Come ON! I'll--"

But instead of rising again, Logan collapsed. He could still hear the footsteps approaching, the German accent carrying on its monologue:

"I switch to Kurt now, ja? Would you like last rites, mein freund? A prayer or hymn? Do Wolverines go to heaven?" It laughed, perverting Kurt's good humor into a manic, ugly sound. Logan felt himself lifted up off the floor. "Perhaps we should--"

SNIKT! Moving faster than he'd let it think he could, Logan buried three claws in the Skull's stomach and slashed its throat with the other three. Even as the creature dropped him, its head toppled off its shoulders.

"Are ya laughin' now?" Logan asked, spitting blood. He turned to help Pete--

And was caught by the scruff of the neck by one of the Skulls who'd held back, whose eyes now glittered.

"That's exactly why I like to have a spare," he said. "I'll be honest, Wolverine: You almost got me. I admire that. Really-- I didn't think you'd come that close. You just *never* give up. If you'd killed my vessel with metal while I was inside? Well, that would be Very Bad for me... but I only need an instant to switch, and there are so many bodies to switch *to*. Nice try, though."

"Anytime." Logan braced himself as the creature threw him again. He expected to hit hard, maybe the *last* hit--

--but instead he floated gently to earth in the doorway. Piotr, still scuffling with three Skulls, was similarly yanked across the room, landing beside Logan. Through bleary eyes, he looked up at a gloved hand-- attached to the last man on Earth he'd expected.

"Tell Charles his children owe their lives to *me*. It should amuse him."

The Slayer sized up the newcomer and started laughing even harder. "YOU again! You know how this will end! Your power provides the perfect finishing touch."

Oily shadows leaked out of the Skull and streaked across the room toward-- only to recoil before a spinning shield of metal.

"I'm told it's not the power, but how you use it," the man said. "And now, I think it is time to correct a misapprehension of yours in our previous meetings. I am not your pawn. I am the pinnacle of human evolution. My name is MAGNETO, and if you do not tremble to hear it-- by the time this day is done, you will."

"Wait!" Piotr leaped to his feet, but the Master of Magnetism extended a hand, closing the door and jamming it shut with all the debris inside the room. Colossus started pounding, but it wasn't going to give. Around them, the walls and ceiling began to tremble, as though one or both of the combatants had decided to settle things by bringing down the building.

Logan wondered how the old man had gotten strong again-- then wondered if he was the *only* one Emma had steeled for a big finish.

He touched Piotr's shoulder. "C'mon."

"NO!" Piotr cried, intent on his friends--

That's when Logan's knees buckled, settling the argument.

****

Longshot leaped over the head of a Skull, turned, and landed a throwing knife between his shoulder blades. His fall knocked a second Skull off his feet before he could impale Nocturne. Longshot himself hit the ground ahead of a dazzle-blast that fried the Skull coming up behind him.

"That's it!" Alison said. "This time, I am definitely changing travel agents!"

TJ asked, "How long do we wait before--"

"Look!" Longshot said, pointing. A few meters away, in a little alcove, a spinning white portal had appeared.

"The hell?" said TJ. "I thought Emma said she couldn't--"

"Magneto," Betsy whispered, sensing his power at work.

"Damn straight, darlin'," said Logan's voice. Piotr was half-carrying him up the strairs-- which began to visibly shake, along with the floor. "Emma tossed us a wild card-- suggest we take her up on it, like now."

"Kitty? Kurt?" she asked, parrying another blow.

"They ain't down there." Logan growled. "Sorry... I thought..."

"We had to try," Ali said. "No regrets."

"Then it's done-- everybody out of here, now! *Especially* Logan!" Betsy's teke collapsed part of the ceiling between them and the Skulls, buying them a moment. "Go!"

TJ asked, "Will the portal close behind us?"

"Damned if I know," said Logan.

Betsy shook her head. "If it doesn't, we're introducing about a hundred hostiles Emma can't afford to deal with. Someone's got to stay behind and close it. That's for me."

"What?" said Logan, TJ, and Piotr all at the same time.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," said Longshot.

"I'm certain it's not," Betsy agreed. "But it's necessary."

"You're crazy, darlin'!" Logan said. "Even you can't take 'em all, an' this place could come down around your--"

"We'll find out, won't we?"

"No, Betts! No way!"

Betsy whirled on him. His sense was pathetically easy to interpret. He would die if he remained here-- and would do so in a second rather than sacrifice another friend, including (especially?) her. But Betsy didn't have to allow that.

"This must be done, and you're in no shape to do it! Besides, you all have metal or light powers or luck-- *something* to use against him. Something reliable." She hissed. "I almost killed you, Logan. He can turn me against my friends too easily. There's too much darkness in me."

"No more'n in me, babe."

Betsy stroked the rough skin of his cheek. "I said we were of a kind. More than I knew."

Alison cleared her throat. "Uh, guys, hate to interrupt, but they're regrouping. We need a call."

"Please, Logan, don't make this harder."

He took her hand in both of his. "I ain't givin' up on you."

"Perish the thought. And should it even cross your mind..." Betsy leaned toward him. They kissed. When at last their lips parted, she murmured, "How's that for incentive?"

The Wolverine needed a moment to gather himself. "I've... had better."

"Liar." Betsy pulled away, wouldn't look in his eyes. "Please go."

A moment's hesitation. The others agreed with Logan. A word from him, and they'd fight to the death here, beside her, and all would be lost. Betsy manifested her katana and stepped away from the group. The Skulls raised their weapons, almost as one...

Piotr said, "We should stay. We can..."

"Get in th' portal, Pete," said Logan, still not moving from the spot where they'd kissed.

"But, tovarisch..."

"Everybody GET IN TH' DAMN PORTAL!"

Alison and Longshot shared a look. TJ was on the verge of tears. Piotr's sense felt defiant, but he couldn't find the words. Betsy knew the feeling. Logan still didn't move.

*I'll see you soon, darlin',* he sent telepathically.

*Count on it,* she replied.

Her friends dove into the gateway. The Skulls set upon Betsy. She dodged a slash from one, parried a second blow, and waded into the fray...

END

This arc of the “X-Force: Eternity” series will conclude in “X-Men Eternity: The Crossroads,” a giant-size crossover between all 5 series, coming soon! A new story will begin with issue #7.

Next Up: "X-Factor #6: The Thief and the Angel"