New Blood II: Growing Ranks

New Blood
Chapter 9: Trade Secrets

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X-Industrial – Conference Room

Teenagers were so impressionable. Moria MacTaggart knew that better than most people. As the mother of an adopted daughter, she knew how easy it was to re-shape their worldview. Most people made it harder then it really was. That’s because they just didn’t know how to reach them on a deeper level. It took a special mix of encouragement, molding, and a little tough love to get them to go along with a given philosophy. And based on what she saw with the new pawns, they had already bought into it.

It had been over a month since the Hellfire Club recruited the likes of Bobby Drake, Kitty Pryde, Sam Guthrie, Jubilation Lee, Tabitha Smith, Roberto Da Costa, Alex Summers, and Lorna Dane. In that time they were fully immersed in the dark and mysterious order of the organization. With their initial recruitment and subsequent lessons, the darkness in their souls had been stirred and it was shaping them into stronger, more promising young mutants with the potential to do much for the organization.

Kitty Pryde came along fairly quickly. Her independent spirit suited her well as she learned the tricks of the trade with the Hellfire Club. She emerged as a tough young woman with a deceptively cute appearance. She took nicely to hand-to-hand training with James Poundstar and Hellfire’s newest instructor, Logan. She was also doing well as a stripper. Her trademark routine involved a school girl’s costume that was always such a big hit with men. She didn’t seem to have a problem with sex work, but to her it was a job. She did what she had to do and much of the money she made went to her parents. But she did show a sexual side. She just shared it more with men like Piotr and a few of her fellow male pawns.

Jubilee’s progress was similar. Like Kitty, she took nicely to hand-to-hand combat taught by Logan and James. She was more fond of Logan’s teachings though. She really embraced the idea of tapping into her more primal instincts. It was kind of like the survival techniques she used as a mall rat, avoiding predators while scavenging for survival. Only with what she learned from Logan, she was more a predator and she liked that. She also didn’t mind the sex work either. Like Kitty, it was a job to her, but she had more fun with it. She liked to toy around with men, only she liked to set the terms. It was a much more empowering feeling after being so powerless back home.

Tabitha Smith was a different story though. Unlike the other girls, she didn’t take training that seriously. She didn’t care too much for learning how to fight or how to conduct business. She was more enthused learning how to apply her powers to any given situation. Under Hellfire’s guidance, particularly from Selelene and Wanda, she found some very creative ways to inflict punishment with her abilities. Some commented she was a bit over the top with how she used her powers, but she didn’t seem to care. She was girl from the streets who survived by leaving her conscious at the door. That allowed her to adjust much quicker Hellfire’s harsher principles. She especially did well as a sex worker. She seemed to really get off on it, learning from Emma all the tricks of the trade. She was a little excessive sometimes, but the men sure didn’t complain.

The boys fared well in their roles too. Bobby learned quickly how to apply his powers. When he started off he could only form snowballs and an ice barrier around his body, but with some training from Xavier and Moria he could now more easily direct his powers to his will. It really boosted his confidence, which he needed. He was still bitter about being beaten into a coma. That feeling of weakness motivated him to get stronger and use his powers more effectively. He liked learning from Logan, who helped toughen him up in terms of fighting skill and he didn’t have as many qualms about using it harshly. His new confidence helped him with the women as well. He frequently spent time in the spa with the women and even spent some time with Jubilee and Tabitha. But his focus was his growing powers.

Roberto learned quickly as well. Like Bobby, his bitterness about what happened to his girlfriend fueled his passion for learning the Hellfire way. It also helped that his father encouraged him. He even visited a few weeks ago and constantly called him, telling him to follow Xavier’s ways and do what needed to be done. He was already making him proud, accompanying his father on a few simple tasks such as intimidating some clients and sabotaging a few meetings. He also enjoyed learning business skills from Warren, who took him under his wing so to speak. His fondness for wielding such power was growing, but sometimes he got a little ahead of himself.

Sam Guthrie was a bit slower to develop. He didn’t take to the Hellfire Club’s tactics nearly as quickly as Bobby and Roberto. Unlike them, he didn’t have the bitterness of being assaulted or left powerless. His main motivation was to learn and to help his ailing family. Xavier already send them generous cash packages and gave his father access to the best doctors. And Sam was grateful for that. He did everything he was asked to do in response. While he had gotten a taste of darkness with sex rituals and training sessions, he didn’t take to them the way others had. He took them seriously though. He may not be as casual about it as some of the others, but he didn’t let it bother him.

Alex was another slow developer, but for a different reason. He didn’t seem to have too much a problem with the Hellfire Club’s morals. He wasn’t afraid to pick a fight or inflict serious pain. But he did not take orders well and he was often too impulsive. It didn’t help he was very competitive either. Whenever he saw Scott doing something, he wanted to do it too even if it was above his level. And when he couldn’t do it, he got frustrated. His friendly sibling rivalry with Scott caused plenty of tension, but it didn’t stop him from accepting their ruthless ways. That made him an asset, but dealing with his attitude was an ongoing challenge. At the very least, Lorna Dane helped keep Alex in line. She developed a good friendship with him since their arrival and was one of the few people who could get through that thick head of his. Scott was sure grateful, but Pietro wasn’t so enthused.

In Lorna’s case, Pietro remained very protective of her and went out of his way to help her develop. It went quite a ways because like Sam, it took her a while to adapt to Hellfire’s brutal tactics. She was beginning to accept them, but she still wasn’t overly casual of them. She still hesitated at times, but she was getting better at it. And like the other girls, she went through some surgery to perk up her body so she could work the clubs. She wasn’t overly fond of stripping, but she tolerated it. Wanda helped her get through it as she was never all that fond of it either. Much of the money she made went to her mother. Like Sam’s mother, Xavier paid to have her sent to the best hospitals with the best doctors. But as good as she was at training and her duties, there was some strain. She got along well with Pietro, but not Wanda. If anything, Lorna was creating a lot of stress between the Maximoff twins. Most were smart enough to stay out of it, but there was always a chance something else could come of it that could blow up in their faces.

Overall, the new pawns were developing nicely on their own terms. Some were developing better than others. Some were adopting more favorable traits than others. Moria decided she would become more active with these new pawns since her operations in Europe had settled over the past four years. Plus, she wanted to spent more time with Charles and get a feel for what it was like for these young pawns. It couldn’t hurt to know if she was going to consider sending Rahne here.

At the moment she was teaching a lesson. The eight young pawns sat around a conference table watching her go through images on a projection screen. They were fairly gruesome images of some of the things she organized back in Europe. But they made a strong point.

“And so as ye see, the right kinds of sabotage can create the right kinds of circumstances for you to exploit,” said Moria as she changed slides, “With a little help from Mystique, this unfortunate Latverian spy sent his boss the wrong information. And he paid a high price as ye can see.”

The next slide showed a morbid image of a dismembered body. Every limb was hacked off, one eye was gouged out, and a look of great pain was etched on his face. For the eight pawns it was a powerful image, but ones they were becoming used to seeing.

“Man, I gotta stop eating such a big lunch before these sessions,” commented Sam.

“Oh tough it out, farm boy,” teased Tabitha, “With Latveria being run by that crazy Doom guy, I think this is par for the course.”

“And ye’d be right, Tabitha,” said Moria, “As much as we here at Hellfire enjoy inflicting punishment, sometimes we like to save ourselves the trouble and let others do the work for us.”

“Bet that helps everybody sleep easier at night,” said Lorna.

“No more than usual I bet,” shrugged Alex, who was sitting close to Lorna, “So you really used that shape shifter woman to impersonate the man’s contact without him knowing? That’s pretty slick.”

“Yeah, he would never know he was doing something wrong,” said Roberto, “So no matter how much Doom tortured him, he wouldn’t be able to say anything. It’s perfect!”

“But what about the contact?” asked Jubilee, “How did you make it so Doom wouldn’t suspect him?”

“That’s easy. Mystique just killed him,” grinned Moria, “And next time I’ll be going into more details about making bodies disappear. Be sure you’re here for that because it is a very important skill to know in our line of work.”

“I’ll bet,” laughed Bobby, “Now I’ll know what it’s like to be the Godfather.”

“Grow up, Bobby,” said Kitty, rolling her eyes.

Moria smiled and shook her head as the eight young pawns gathered their notes and got up to leave. She always enjoyed seeing the young interact. It may be because she lost her child and could now only enjoy such maternal satisfaction by watching others. But even in a place like the Hellfire Club, there was still room for teenagers to be teenagers.

“Bye Mistress MacTaggart,” said Kitty, “Thanks for the vivid lesson.”

“Anytime lass,” smiled Moria.

Kitty followed the others out, passing Charles Xavier along the way. She politely bowed in the presence of the Black King. Everybody did as was the custom. But he amicably smiled and let them go about their way. He just arrived, having heard the last part of Moria’s latest lesson. He smiled upon seeing her as he so often did and Moria smiled back.

“They certainly seem to have taken a liking to you, Moria,” commented Charles.

“Aye, I like think I can communicate Hellfire’s message in a memorable way for them to apply. Thanks for the visual aids, by the way,” she smiled.

“Anytime, my dear,” said Charles as he approached and kissed the top of her hand.

Moria never got tired of that gesture. It was somewhat of a formality for them, one that developed when they were dating. Being from upper class families they had to walk the walk so to speak. When they joined the Hellfire Club they didn’t have to worry about such scrutiny, but Charles did it anyways. It was his way of showing affection.

“So how are they handling themselves?” he asked.

“They’re making progress,” answered Moria, “Between these lessons and the training you’ve been giving them, I can see that distinctive Hellfire look in their eyes. It’s stronger in some more than others, but it’s definitely there.”

“That’s always a good sign,” said the Black King, “That look means they’re beginning to embrace our ways. They’re young and like the pawns before them, it may take a while for them become completely comfortable with our tactics.”

“Well they don’t seem to have a problem inflicting pain on others anymore. Do you think they’re ready to kill?”

“Not yet. You can’t just turn them from naïve teenagers to efficient killers overnight. Even if it would make this process much easier, it must be done carefully. We cannot have them killing for the wrong reasons and feeling the wrong emotions afterwards.”

“Aye, but if ye did it with the first batch I’m sure ye can do it with these ones.”

“I hope so,” sighed Charles, “But their circumstances were different.”

“Are they really?” questioned Moria, “You’ve got Roberto, son of a rich father looking to follow in his footsteps. Is that not like Warren? You’ve got a runaway in Tabitha who lived on the streets, using her powers to survive. Is that not like Emma?”

“Perhaps, but I hesitate to lump them together. We must look at each pawn individually. Otherwise we risk losing their potential and their loyalty. Because if we cannot develop their loyalty to Hellfire, then you know Selene will take advantage of that.”

“Aye, she always does.”

Moria’s voice always went sour every time Selene entered the conversation. She didn’t like that woman the second Charles introduced her. She was sadistic in a way that was harsh even by the standards of the Hellfire Club. She didn’t just torture people to further the organization or to better herself. She just liked to watch people suffer. She was in a class all her own in terms of darkness and she constantly warned Charles about her over the years. He always assured her that he wouldn’t let her get the better of him, but sometimes she felt that wasn’t enough.

“I’m already worried about a few of them,” she went on, “Tabitha, for one, is a self-absorbed young woman with a weakness for pleasure. She’s also a tad lazy and doesn’t like to apply herself more than she has to.”

“Yes, I will speak to her about that,” said Xavier seriously, “Roberto has the same problem. He would rather take a short cut rather than earn his place. His father seems to agree. I spoke with him yesterday and he seems a bit impatient with his son. He doesn’t like the idea of him starting out as a pawn. He believes he should already be in the Inner Circle.”

“Typical,” scoffed Moria, “Emmanuel of all people should know that a spot in our ranks should be earned, not given.”

“I would think so, but if his son agrees with him too much he may become alienated. And you know how good Selene is at playing off that.”

Moria nodded. She remembered a few major incidents where Selene used the aspiration of others to her advantage. It was part of how Xavier ascended the ranks of the Hellfire Club so quickly. And there was no reason to believe that Selene would stop.

“That’s not all she can play off of, Charles,” she said, “Alex seems more frustrated every time I see him. I thought Scott said he talked to him.”

“Hence why he seems more frustrated,” quipped Xavier, “He and Scott have yet to patch things up. I believe Alex resents being under his older brother. And given he can be just as stubborn as Scott, it may be a while before they can come to some sort of agreement.”

“Hopefully not too long though,” said Moria, “Selene could exploit that as well. You know how much she loves pitting people against one another.”

“I know. Believe me, Moria, I take all of these cases seriously,” he said strongly, “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t assume Selene has her own agenda. She always does and always will.”

“So why do ye keep tolerating her? Why don’t you just find some way to take her out?”

“It’s not that simple. If it were I would have done it long ago. But as much as I hate to admit it, I need Selene at the moment. She owns too great a stake in Hellfire’s assets, both material and in terms of power. For now, all we can do is tolerate her and do whatever we can to hinder her agenda.”

A heavy silence fell over them. Moria never liked that plan. It was the same plan Charles had been going by for years now. She understood his reasons for doing so. Selene had a lot of power and say in Hellfire matters. If she were to turn against them, then they would lose those assets and they would not be able to manage the Hellfire Club’s vast network. But there were times Moria thought it was worth risking the current status quo. At the very least it would make their lives easier, not having to deal with that woman.

Sensing her distress, Xavier moved in closer and slipped his arms around her. He never liked arguing with Moria over these matters. Such arguing is part of what broke them up all those years ago. There were still things they didn’t see eye-to-eye on, but they relied on each other so much now. Without her, he could not do what he did because he would have no one he could trust like he could trust her.

“It’ll be alright, Moria,” he assured her, “I promise I will never let Selene get the better of me.”

“You better, Charles,” she said in a half-threatening tone, “I would hate to imagine a woman like her taking full reign in the Hellfire Club.”

“Indeed,” he said, “But so long as I’m here that won’t happen.”

“I know you won’t,” she said, leaning in closer to him, “It’s just that with her here it makes me worry about sending Rahne over to train.”

“Yes, I know how you feel about that. How is she by the way?”

Moria’s expression fell again.

“Still having trouble with her powers,” she said, “The animal in her isn’t getting along with her human side as well as it used to. I’ve seen her embracing her animal instincts a lot more lately. It’s helped in her bounty hunting, but not without undue strain on her overall well-being.”

“I see…well if you like I could schedule her to visit with Hank. He is somewhat of an expert in these matters,” offered Xavier.

“Hank McCoy? Well I suppose he’s better than Sinister,” sighed Moria, “I guess it couldn’t hurt. Forge told me at the rate she was going, she may lose control of her animal side permanently.”

“I won’t let that happen,” vowed Charles.

“And I don’t want it to,” she said distantly, “It’s just that…even with all our power, sometimes I still feel powerless.”

Xavier cupped her chin and looked her in the eye. He had in his gaze the dark yet strong determination that had become so dominant to his persona over the years. It was a look Moria saw grow before her eyes and it had become a source of comfort for her.

“You mustn’t think that way, Moria. The power we have is still growing. Everything I work for…those ambitions I told you about all those years ago…they’re still developing. My ultimate goal to create a new order is not yet complete. But when it is, I promise you that neither one of us will ever know that feeling again.”

Moria’s spirits lifted and she smiled. He sounded so certain. Even with people like Selene standing in his way, there was no doubt in his mind. Moria always wished she had that strength. It was part of what she loved about this man. He wasn’t afraid of anything. He wasn’t afraid of thinking big either. She still didn’t know how this grand plan of his was going to take shape. But she was confident that Charles Xavier could make it happen.

Hellfire Garden

Hellfire Manor always maintained an exuberant décor. The halls inside were among the richest and fanciest in the world. But the outside was just as good. Since Hellfire Manor was walled off from the rest of the cityscape of the surrounding Manhattan buildings, there was plenty of room for landscaping. Like the inside, no expense was spared. The best flowers, plants, and accessories littered the area. It made for a great environment to just sit around and enjoy the fresh outside air.

At the moment, Scott and Jean were lounging around in the back amidst the rose garden. They were sitting on a blanket and having a nice, quiet picnic with food prepared by the manor’s gourmet chefs. Between training and duties, it was hard to find time for them to just be together and with everything that had been going on lately they needed it.

“This was a great idea, Jean. I’m glad you talked me into this,” said Scott as he lay back on the blanket with her.

“I’m glad you went along with it,” she said with an affectionate smile, “Sometimes you’re too busy for your own good. I know you’re dedicated and all, but even you have to relax every now and then.”

“I know. It feels like I haven’t had a moment to spear for months.”

“That’s probably because you haven’t,” she said coyly, “You’re too busy trying to carry the load by yourself. Even Lord Xavier emphasizes taking time to enjoy life’s pleasures. So I guess that makes it my job to remind you.”

“That’s what makes you such a great lover,” he said with a loving smile.

She smiled back and slipped into his arms. They then shared a soft kiss, forgetting for a moment their meal and their surroundings and just enjoying each other’s presence.

For four years now, their relationship had been going on. Since that fateful night with Jean’s first spell, they had come a long way. That night revealed the bond that formed between them on that memorable first day they met and in every respect, their love was strong. But in the Hellfire Club, relationships were a lot more complicated. They agreed early on that their relationship would be open. It had to be because Jean was still stripping at the time and slept with a number of other men on a regular basis. But beyond that she still occasionally slept with other men in the Inner Circle like James Poundstar and Pietro. Scott did the same as well, sleeping with women like Emma and Rogue. Most of the time it didn’t bother them, but there were some occasions when it caused a little strain.

Early on when Scott sought out Jean for some intimate time, she wasn’t always in the mood because she was tired from working the clubs. The same thing happened to him sometimes when he slept with other women. It led to a few arguments, but they always made up for it. Every week since their first night, they cleared their schedule for at least one night to spend alone. It wasn’t always on the same day, but it was enough to remind them that no matter how many others they slept with, they still loved each other.

Lately, a new challenge had arisen. Since Logan’s arrival over a month ago, he had been hanging around Jean a lot. Since she first reached out to him they formed a close friendship. Logan didn’t associate well with most people, but he was able to associate with Jean and it helped him assert himself in the Hellfire Club. She showed him the ropes and there were a few times they did get intimate. At the same time Logan hooked up with pretty much every other woman in the Inner Circle at least once, but he seemed to prefer her intimacy the most. That didn’t sit well with Scott because it led him to suspect he was feeling something more for her.

As they parted from their kiss, they stayed in each others arms. For a moment they just sat in silence, admiring the elaborate roses and flowers throughout the garden. There was a lot on their minds with everything that had been going on. And they couldn’t avoid talking about it forever.

“So how’s Alex coming along?” Jean asked him.

“Okay I guess,” sighed Scott.

“Just okay?”

“Yeah, I was kind of hoping he would be further along at this point. I was also hoping he would have put some past issues aside by now, but he just won’t let go of them.”

“So he’s still bitter about you two parting ways four years ago?” said Jean with a hint of surprise.

“I wouldn’t say it’s as bad as it was before he arrived, but it’s still there,” said Scott, “I’m worried he may never let it go.”

“He will. He’s your brother,” assured Jean.

“I hope so. If he keeps resenting me it may cause serious trouble. You know what tends to happen in the Inner Circle when two parties aren’t on the same page.”

“Yeah, it never ends well. But hopefully it never comes to that.”

“Hopefully…” sighed Scott, “I’m hoping Lorna can keep him in line. He seems to have bonded with her pretty well.”

“So I’ve noticed,” smiled Jean, “And a positive female influence goes a long ways. You of all people should know that.”

Scott smiled and hugged her a little closer. Jean had been a big part of his development here at the Hellfire Club. They came of age here together and helped each other along the way. It was part of what their relationship was built on, but it was still developing.

“Well let’s hope she can take care of him more without me,” he said, “I know that I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to help Alex lately. It hasn’t left a lot of time for us.”

“I know. But I understand,” she assured him, “I can manage.”

“I know you can. Logan seems to keep you plenty occupied,” he said, his tone shifting slightly.

Jean sighed and shifted as well. This was still as sore subject and Scott wouldn’t stop bringing it up.

“Please Scott, let’s not have that argument again,” she said, “I thought we resolved this.”

“I know, but it hasn’t stopped bothering me,” he told her, “Whenever I’m busy with something, he’s the one you turn to first. And it seems whenever he gets a spare moment, you’re the one he seeks out.”

“That’s because I’m the only one he’s really connected with,” she reminded, “Nobody else really reached out to him so why are you surprised that he keeps coming back to me?”

“I’m not. I just don’t trust his reasons,” said Scott strongly.

Jean was about to respond, but she didn’t want to push this issue further. It was just going to lead to another argument and she didn’t want that. This was supposed to be their quiet time together. This wasn’t the time to get into such complicated matters.

She turned around and looked him in the eye with her penetrating gaze.

“Scott, I won’t belabor this any more than I have to. But even if you don’t trust Logan, please trust me when I say that you’re the man I love. I admit, I have a soft spot for Logan. It’s no different then the soft spot you have for Emma, Rogue, or any other woman.”

“But I just get the feeling that it’s more than that,” said Scott strongly, “I’ve seen the way Logan looks at you. It’s more than just a soft spot.”

“Even if that’s true, and I don’t think it is, that doesn’t mean I feel the same way,” she said, really trying to emphasize the point, “I love you Scott and for all the other people in our lives, that will never change. Can you at least trust me on that?”

It was hard to say no when she gave him that look. Holding her close, tracing his fingers down the side of her face Scott was amazed he had the love and affection of this woman. It wasn’t easy embracing that love in the world of the Hellfire Club, but it was too strong to doubt. As complicated as things could get around here, the basics of their relationship never changed.

“Of course I can, Jean,” he told her honestly, “I just worry sometimes.”

“I know…I do to,” she said with a reassuring smile.

Jean rested her head on his shoulder and he slipped his arm around her waist, holding her a little closer.

“I love you,” said Scott.

“I love you too,” said Jean.

“I will always be here for you,” he told her.

“So will I.”

“And I’m sorry if I keep bringing this issue up. I know it’s not very romantic,” he said sheepishly.

“We can still make up for it. For our night this week, why don’t we go get a hotel room or something? That way we can spend some real quality time together,” she suggested in a seductive tone.

“I like that idea,” smiled Scott.

“And to make it even better, I can add in a special little spell Enchantress has been helping me with.”

“Oh? What kind of spell?” he asked curiously.

“You’ll just have to wait and see, lover.”

Scott smiled and kissed her again. Good things were always worth waiting for and that was especially so with a lover who knew magic. The issues with Logan, Alex, Emma and what not were not going to be solved easily. But they were confident they could work through this. The Hellfire Club made them strong and they weren’t going to let this feeling go no matter what got in their way.

In the romantic ambience of the garden, Scott and Jean continued to cuddle and kiss. If anybody saw them they would never have guessed they were members of a ruthless organization that seized power and crushed their enemies. It was somewhat ironic. They were ruthless Hellfire lords and tender lovers. It didn’t seem to fit, but they made it work. However, there were a few who did not see it that way.

From a window on the third floor of the manor, Logan stood silently and watched Scott and Jean share their moment. He had been watching for nearly a half hour now, listening and observing the ways in which they interacted. It wasn’t easy to take in, but he never once turned away. He just kept on watching.

Between his new duties and going over the endless documents concerning his past, Jean Grey was Logan’s most common activity. Even when he wasn’t spending time with her, he was hanging around her or watching her from a far. He wasn’t oblivious to his reasons. He was attracted to this woman and he liked her. Even though he banged every other woman in this manor he felt something special with her and it wasn’t just sexual. He dropped his share of hints to her, but she always avoided them. She seemed steadfast in her feelings. She loved Scott Summers and he didn’t like it.

“Fuckin’ prick,” he muttered under his breath.

Of all the men Jean could have been with, she had to be with the one he clashed with most. Since his arrival, he and Scott were always at each others’ throats. He had his own way of doing things while Scott wanted him to follow certain Hellfire protocols. That wasn’t his style and he constantly reminded him of that and he wasn’t afraid to be rude about it. Jean deserved better than a guy so obsessed with protocol and he felt he should be that guy. But he couldn’t change how she felt about him no matter what.

It was somewhat disheartening because he had been in this position before. When he was first rescued by Alpha Flight, he grew close to Heather Hudson and for a time was pretty taken with her. But she didn’t return his feelings. She was a married woman and very much dedicated to her husband. It never sat well and eventually played a part in him leaving. But this felt different. He believed he could connect more with Jean because she was tough like him and had an unrestrained, passionate side. He got the sense she didn’t let that side out around Scott. The more she watched them together the more certain he was that Scott wasn’t right for her. He just had to make her realize it.

Then a feminine voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Giving voyeurism a try, Logan? And they say I have no standards.”

He didn’t even have to turn around to see who it was. Only Emma Frost could start a conversation with a comment that snide. He could also smell her perfume from halfway down the hall. The woman took vanity and ego to new levels.

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be, Frost?” said Logan, not taking his eyes off Jean and Scott.

“What? You think you’re the only one caught up in that sham those two call a relationship.”

Logan muttered a curse as Emma slipped in next to him and gazed out at the scene below. She was just in time to see Scott and Jean laughing together in an affectionate display of romance. It was sickening to her and unlike Logan, she didn’t say silent about it.

“So are you going to say it or do I have to pry it out of your mind?” said the attractive blonde.

“Either way, would that stop you?” quipped Logan.

“Probably not, but humor me anyways. You like Jean, don’t you? You’ve been lingering around her like a stalker since you got here. Care to offer any insight to a curious party?”

“Believe me, Frost, you’re the last one I’d open up to. I don’t trust you to get my coffee,” said Logan.

“Too bad because it appears we have a similar dilemma. We’re hopelessly drawn to a lover who won’t return the sentiment and it makes us both angry as hell. Can we at least agree on that?”

Emma wasn’t an easy person to have a conversation with, but he couldn’t fault her for being right. She knew about his thing for Jean. And he knew a bit about her affinity for Scott Summers. Why she liked him was beyond her. The only way he knew was because she told him after the first time they had sex. She just blurted it out for no apparent reason and he didn’t care at the time. But now it had a new level of importance.

“I don’t know what it is you feel for Summers, but it can’t be anything near what I feel for Jean.”

“Oh how sweet,” she said sarcastically, “And they say you’re incapable of sentiment.”

“It ain’t just sentiment. It’s a lot more than that, but you wouldn’t know the first thing about it because you’re a cold hearted bitch whose idea of romance involves tying a guy up and making him call you queen.”

“They don’t seem to mind,” she said with a snide smile, “You should know. We’ve done the deed, haven’t we? And if memory serves me right you’ve done it with Jean too.”

“There’s a difference, Frost…a big difference. What I do with you is just for fun. You got big tits, a nice ass, and you talk dirty. That’s about it.”

“Thank you,” she grinned.

“But Jean’s got more than that. She ain’t just eye candy,” he said strongly, “She’s someone I can relate to. She and I got somethin’ going and I’m not even going to begin to describe it to you because a woman like you could never understand it.”

Emma’s demeanor shifted. She was used to people making snide comments about her, but when someone told her she didn’t know the first thing about having deeper feelings for someone she took offense. The truth was complicated. She did know in many ways what it was like, but not in the classic sense. But she wasn’t about to let this brute know that.

“You’re wrong, Logan. On some levels I do understand,” she told him sternly, “You think your little crush on Jean means something? You’ve known her a month! I’ve known her and Scott for over four years. I’ve watched them become all sappy with each other. Can you imagine having to sit through that?”

“Wish I could say you have my sympathies, but you don’t,” said Logan bluntly.

“I don’t care for sympathies,” she scoffed, “But it hasn’t been easy to say the least. In that same time I’ve opened up to Scott. He’s one of the few men I feel comfortable confiding in.”

“You opened up to him?” laughed Logan, “How is that possible? You don’t open up to anybody.”

“Believe it or not, it was advice Jean gave me,” she said with a hallow laugh, “She said I should give it a try so I tried it with Scott. Turns out it did more than I expected. It starts off with pillow talk after we have sex. Then we start having conversations. The next thing you know I start feeling things I don’t expect. Is that not like what you’ve had with Jean?”

Logan didn’t make another snide comment. Her overly simple description didn’t tell the whole story by a long shot, but it was still perfectly valid. It reminded him of how it all began with Jean and where it was leading him to now. It was too early to say it was that deep, but for Emma it had been long enough. It was ironic because Emma Frost was a woman he had pretty much nothing in common with except their love of sex. And of all the things to have in common with her, he had this developing issue.

“Say I might just believe you in some tiny extent…what do we do?” asked Logan.

Emma sighed as she gazed down at the man she could not have.

“Not much for now,” she said, “But there may come a time when you and I may have a chance to ‘open their eyes’ so to speak.”

“Open their eyes? You mean break them up?” said Logan.

“I wouldn’t put it so crudely, but yes,” said Emma with a sinister grin, “You can’t say you wouldn’t mind, would you? You’d have Jean all to yourself and I’d have Scott. It’s win-win.”

“That depends,” said Logan skeptically.

“Does it? Logan, you may not like me, but don’t think for a second you understand me. Like you I’m a predator. When I see something I want I pursue it. But unlike you I’m not so naïve to think that I can do everything without help. Believe me, I’ve tried. And seeing as how you haven’t endured this abomination of a relationship long enough, I’ll let it go. But when you get a point where you can’t take it anymore, let me know. We may be able to assist each other.”

Logan was silent for a moment. Looking at this woman he saw the same look on her face that he had when he saw Scott and Jean together. She didn’t like it any more than he did and she seemed serious about what she felt for Scott. He still didn’t understand it and could care less, but if they were dealing with the same problem didn’t it make sense to help each other? That way they could both have what they wanted, but he had mixed feelings.

Emma Frost was a complicated woman. She was unlike any of the other women at the Hellfire Club. At least with them they had subtleties he could pick up on. This woman was a closed book. She didn’t let anybody see her weaknesses or vulnerabilities. She also wasn’t afraid to be manipulative and conniving while she was at it. If it messed things up at the end she didn’t care so long as she got what she wanted. That didn’t necessarily sit well with Logan, especially if she applied that to Scott and Jean.

“I’ll think about it,” he told her.

“Be sure that you do. Because trust me, this isn’t going to go away on its own,” warned Emma.

Another silence fell over them as they continued watching Scott and Jean. They were at it again, kissing and hold each other as two lovers should. It wasn’t easy on either of them, but those two being together didn’t change how they felt. All it did was present an obstacle. How they were going to get through it was still in question, but both Logan and Emma had their ideas.

Washington DC

“Stop! What are you doing you crazy bitch?! Put me down! For the love of God put me down!”

The desperate cries of a prominent senator fell on deaf ears as Rogue carried him in his car over the waters of the Potomac River. It was a routine job. A senator on Hellfire’s payroll went renegade and someone had to make an example out of him. Mystique was originally sent on the job, but Rogue volunteered to help out. It was a good thing too because when Mystique confronted him about his betrayal he ran. He made it to his car and started to speed away, but before he could reach the end of the block Rogue flew in, grabbed his car, and lifted it effortlessly into the air. It shocked and scared the hapless senator to death, but he should have known better for messing with the Hellfire Club.

“Oh God! Oh my God!” he said nervously, “What are you going to do? What the fuck are you going to do?!”

“Hey, watch the language pal!” Rogue scorned, “Where Ah come from a gentleman doesn’t swear when he’s around a lady.”

“Please! I have a family! Have mercy!”

“Sorry sugah, but you should have thought of that before goin’ against the Hellfire Club.”

Once she was high enough over the river she held the car up on end and forcefully threw it down into the water at high speeds. The horrified screams of the man echoed out of the car until it impacted the waves, causing quite a splash and permanently silencing the senator. She flew over just to be sure. Once the bubbles stopped coming up she was satisfied. That crazy senator wasn’t going to be messing with Hellfire where he was going.

“Another day another body bag,” grinned Rogue as she flew back to shore.

The job was done and she didn’t even break a sweat. These new powers of hers were nothing short of amazing. Miss Marvel had no idea how great she had it. Rogue loved being able to fly through the air, just letting the wind blow across her face. She also loved being able to lift heavy loads and take heavy punishment. She thought she was powerful before, but this was even better. It took a while to get used to at first. But James and Warren helped a lot, teaching her to fly and manage her strength. During those first days she couldn’t even hold a glass of water without breaking it. She even had an unfortunate incident with a Hellfire stud when she was having sex with him. She ended up squeezing too hard with her legs and breaking his spine. That was unfortunate, but with training she was done with those incidents. Now she could just enjoy the new power she had.

Mystique watched from the shore near the river with an approving smile. She knew better than anybody how much Rogue was enjoying her new powers. She sure used them well. Had she not tagged along, chasing after the senator would have gotten messy. She knew when to make her move and how to finish the job. Four years of Hellfire training helped her come a long way and she couldn’t be prouder. She was not just embracing her potential, she was exceeding it.

“Now ain’t ya glad Ah came along, momma?” said Rogue as she descended gracefully to the ground.

“Yes, I’m not afraid to admit it. You did well, Rogue,” said Mystique in approval, “But that man wasn’t going to escape away one way or another. Don’t forget about that.”

“Oh Ah know. You would have chased him around the world if you had to. Ah just saved you the trouble!”

Mystique smiled again. It was good to see Rogue in such high spirits. With the kind of power she now wielded, that was a given. Xavier already had her doing more specialized tasks that catered to her new strengths. She tagged along with James and Piotr, playing the part as the Hellfire Club’s latest strongman, only she wasn’t a man.

“So what now? Was that the whole mission?” asked Rogue.

“For now, yes,” said Mystique, “We’ll leave Sage to clean it up from here. She’s already got a cover story planned. The senator was involved in a tragic accident that caused his car to swerve of a bridge and into the river.”

“Tragic, yeah right,” scoffed Rogue, “When is it ever tragic when a crooked politician dies?”

“Never, but it helps if people think it is. It will still send the same message to other politicians who may entertain thoughts of opposing us. Although I highly doubt this will be the last time we have to do something like this.”

“Eh, it ain’t that big a problem,” shrugged Rogue, “With these new powers of mine there ain’t a politician alive that can hide!”

“Which is why Xavier will probably leave them to me,” reminded Mystique, “Remember, Rogue, your new powers give you a new role. You won’t always be able to tag along like this. Especially in the kind of work I do, strength isn’t always the best way to go.”

“Ah know. Strategy before action. You taught meh that the first day,” sighed Rogue, “But that means Ah may not be able to work with ya much, momma. If you’re doin’ one thing and Ah’m doin’ another, how are we supposed to watch each other in the field?”

Mystique’s expression shifted. That was one of the negative aspects of Rogue’s new powers that she was beginning to realize. Because of their different talents it meant they would be doing different tasks. It didn’t seem fair since Mystique just got back from a four year mission investigating Weapon X and finally had time to catch up with her kids. But circumstances just weren’t on their side. It was even more disheartening when she remembered that she was the one that encouraged Rogue to absorb Miss Marvel. Now she had new powers, but that meant they weren’t in the same league anymore.

Every mother had a moment like this. Even for adopted children, a time came when kids were grown up and mature to a point where they didn’t need their mother’s guidance or protection. With Rogue there wasn’t anything she could really protector her against anymore now that she was invulnerable. It left her feeling a bit out of touch and a bit old, even though she didn’t age.

“I suppose we’re somewhat beyond that point, Rogue,” she sighed, “You’re a full grown woman now with amazing powers. I’m not sure how much more I can give you at this point.”

“Aw, don’t say that momma,” said Rogue, “Ya know Ah’ll always need ya.”

“But how much?” questioned Raven, “These past four years have been a trial not just because I was on a mission for so long, but because it gave you time to come into your own. Both you and Kurt have grown so much since I brought you into the Hellfire Club. And I’m proud of you for everything you’ve accomplished.”

“Thanks momma, but just because we’re growin’ up doesn’t mean we don’t want ya in our lives. Ah still need ya. Hell, Kurt needs ya too.”

“I would hope so, but lately I’m not so sure,” muttered Mystique.

“Well let’s not get into that,” said Rogue, knowing it was a sore subject.

It was true. Since Mystique returned she had been trying to catch up with Kurt as well. But he was so engrossed in his studies and helping Wanda he just didn’t seem to have time for her. She confronted Wanda and Selene multiple times. Selene, of course, pretended to be innocent. She claimed she had no influence on Kurt. It was all Wanda. But she suspected Wanda was under her thumb as well. Whatever the case may be, Kurt spent more time working with them than she ever did her and aside from occasional conversations, they didn’t spend a lot of time together. There were a whole myriad of issues surrounding Kurt, but she set that aside for the moment.

“It’s just going to be hard filling the void I guess,” said Mystique in a low tone, “It’s part of being a mother.”

“You’ll find somethin’ to fill it with one day, momma,” said Rogue with a comforting gesture, “Or maybe you’ll find someone.”

“I hope you mean that as a joke,” said the shape shifter with a half grin.

“Just throwin’ out suggestions, mama,” shrugged Rogue innocently, “You’re the one who says she’s got a void to fill.”

“Funny, isn’t it the mother who usually asks her daughter when she’s going to settle down?”

“Mama, you know me better than that. Ah ain’t the type to settle down,” said Rogue with a sassy grin.

“That’s why you’re Rogue,” she smiled.

“Yep!” said Rogue proudly, “Now what do you say we head back to the manor and spend some quality time with the studs? After a mission like this Ah think we could both use a good lay!”

Mystique rolled her eyes. That was another trait her daughter seemed to pick up from her training at the Hellfire Club. Even though she could touch and be intimate with someone, she was somewhat adverse to pursuing relationships of any kind. She was clearly attracted to men. She remembered how she used to talk about men like Scott and James Poundstar. Now she just talked about guys she thought were hot. She had no inclination to do anything more with men other than have sex with them. It was good in some ways because it saved Mystique the trouble of scaring the hell out of her boyfriend, but at the same time she was a little sad for her.

While she hadn’t been head over heels in love with anybody before, she had been in relationships. And even though none worked out, just being with somebody had its advantages. Even the one-sided marriage she had to her ex husband had some connection to it. The same could be said for Kurt’s biological father. But she hadn’t wasted time with such things since. But now that she had finished her mission with Weapon X and her kids were grown up, maybe it was time to be open to the idea again.

Sinister’s Secret Lab

Mr. Sinister was in a rare good mood. He had been smiling more the past few hours than he had in the previous fifty years. And he had good reason. The means to achieve his ultimate goal were finally taking a tangible form. Nothing had been pieced together yet. Everything was still boxed up in crates that had yet to be opened, but just being able to see and touch them was a major rush.

For the past month now he had Hellfire’s top thieves working overtime. Remy, Ororo, and Deadpool each earned their keep, traveling great distances to obtain the advanced components he needed. They didn’t necessarily enjoy the extensive traveling, but he could care less. So long as they delivered the goods their mood was of secondary concern to him.

At the moment he was doing a quick inventory, walking through rows of crates and boxes that contained a vast array of components. Many had ominous labels like toxic, biohazard, or illegal to ship. But that never concerned him. He just had to be a little creative with his reports. This particular warehouse where he was gathering these materials was no ordinary warehouse. It was on the Hellfire Club’s payroll and Xavier was well-aware of it. What he wasn’t aware of, however, was the secret lab he had built under it. He knew Charles didn’t know because if he knew the kinds of things he did in that lab he would have gone into a rage. He hadn’t yet so that was a good sign. The only trick now was to make sure that he emptied the crates and replaced the equipment inside with something Xavier would believe. That way he wouldn’t know what these parts were and what he was doing with them. As powerful a man as Xavier was, he was not immune from deception.

He had to be careful though. The slightest slip-up and Xavier could stop him in his tracks. He couldn’t have that, especially during a critical time like this. He was obligated to provide the Inner Circle with detailed reports for every piece of equipment he gathered. This was no different, only he would have to lie a little in regards to what these parts were and what they could do.

“Order up!” Deadpool called out as he drove a fork-lift into the warehouse, “Somebody order a toxic chemical omelet with a side of fries?”

“Yes, set that down over there, Wade,” said Sinister, pointing to a corner, “And do be careful with it. Those chemicals are very volatile, not to mention rare.”

“Aye aye, captain S!” said the merc with a mouth.

Deadpool set down four barrels of chemicals while Remy and Ororo came in with the last couple of boxes. These weren’t the large kinds that needed fork lifts, but they were sensitive and required special casings. They each looked tired, having carried out a particularly grueling mission in South Korea. But they were getting the job done.

“Where do you want these?” asked Remy.

“Just set them down here,” he said, pointing to an area next to him, “I’ll take care of it.”

Remy and Ororo did as he asked and let out a tired sigh. As good as they were at their jobs, it could get pretty tiring at times and Sinister’s schedules were hard to keep. But they were still getting paid so they weren’t complaining.

“I trust there were no problems?” he inquired as he filled out another report.

“No more than usual,” said Ororo, “But this laundry list of parts would be a lot easier to get if we knew what they are before we steal it.”

“Perhaps, but this is how it has to be,” said Sinister, “If you want to see the report, go to Xavier.”

“That ain’t the problem. If yo’ want this stuff with the timetables you be talkin’ about, we need more details,” said Remy with a touch of frustration, “Storm and I had to put together two stings and bribe a guy to get this.”

“If you’re worried about expenses I’ll gladly reimburse you,” said Sinister, rolling his eyes.

“That ain’t the point! Remy knows you ain’t all that familiar with thieving, but it sure would sit better with everybody if you showed a little class, non?”

Sinister stared down the Cajun. He had the same look in his eye as Ororo. Neither one trusted him. They made that clear from the beginning. But he didn’t need their trust to accomplish his goal. He only needed their skills.

Gazing at them sternly his eyes flashed a menacing red color. He couldn’t intimidate them, but he could still remind them who was in charge.

“I sympathize with your plight, but I cannot waste my valuable time accommodating you two. I have too much to do and too little to spare. Now you still have several key parts left and these will be particularly challenging. How you get them is up to you. But make no mistake…I don’t tolerate failure. I may not be Charles, but I am a voice in the Inner Circle and as such you are obligated to do as I say. Is that clear?”

Remy and Ororo just nodded. Remy was tempted to make a comment, but Ororo shot him a gaze that held him back. Something told her it would be best if they kept their words to this man to a minimum.

“Very well. Now check in with, Hank. He has the details for your next assignment. You three will be heading off to Brazil for the next part. And do be careful with this next one. Some of these parts are very sensitive.”

“We’ll be fine,” said Storm.

She and Remy turned and left, leaving Sinister to finish the report. Remy still wanted to call that man out. Even though he did owe him for curing his head pains all those years ago, there were so many things about him that didn’t sit right.

“What do you think he’s really up to?” wondered Remy.

“Who knows,” said Storm, sharing his suspicion, “Let’s just hope that whatever it is, Xavier picks up on it.”

“So why are we still helping him? Ain’t stealin’ this stuff just makin’ it easier for him?”

“Like he said, Remy, we’re thieves. He outranks us,” said the African thief strongly, “But that doesn’t mean were powerless. He needs us as much as we need him. That’s why we have to make sure that whatever we are helping him with, we make sure there’s a failsafe.”

That was easier said than done when it came to Mr. Sinister. But it was necessary. For now they didn’t have time to dwell on it. More work awaited them. Deadpool joined up with them after he set the chemicals down and followed them out. He didn’t seem nearly as concerned, but then again they could never tell with him. But even he knew Sinister was a wildcard. There was no question that he could pull a fast one. They just had to be ready for it.

With the three Hellfire thieves gone, Sinister was left alone with his precious parts. He picked up one of the boxes Ororo set down next to him and opened it, revealing inside a small, sturdy glass casing with a computer chip securely locked inside it. But it wasn’t just any computer chip. It was specially formatted to process genetic information at a rate well-beyond anything known in the black or gray market. It was one of a kind, the only chip capable of processing the information he had in mind. It wasn’t going to be an ordinary experiment in genetics by any stretch. And it had the potential to change the course of evolution forever.

“Soon…” he mused as he gazed at the chip.

Suddenly, an ice cold voice broke him from his thoughts.

“Does Xavier know you’re stealing hardware of such caliber? You know how he feels about being kept out of the loop.”

Sinister turned around in annoyance to see Selene emerge from the shadows. How she got here he had no idea and why she was here was an even greater mystery. But ever the careful one, he kept his cool.

“Selene, what a pleasant surprise,” he greeted, hiding the bitterness in his tone, “And you need not worry. This chip is a legitimate need. I’ve sent Xavier a detailed report. He can check it himself.”

“Cut the crap, Nathan, I can see through your façade,” said Selene sternly.

“Why Selene, whatever do you mean?” he said innocently.

“Oh so I suppose it’s just coincidence that you’ve been replacing these parts with fakes and shipping the real ones down to your secret lab in this building. They must be pretty advanced to run those wild experiments of yours…you know, the ones about cloning that Xavier doesn’t know about.”

Sinister’s expression paled and for him that was quite a feat. He snarled at this woman’s gall. He never liked Selene all that much and rarely spoke to her over the years. But he knew her well enough to understand what a ruthless and sadistic bitch she was. Even by his standards, she was a brute. But the fact she knew what he was doing put a serious damper on his plans. If she told Xavier then everything he worked for could be lost.

“My experiments…but how did you know?!” he exclaimed.

“Please, your high tech fail safes are good, but my magic is better,” grinned Selene, “With a few tricks I’ve set up some recordings that are quite incriminating if I do say so.”

“Are you trying to intimidate me?” said Sinister sternly, “You think you can scare me just by coming in like this and throwing it in my face?”

“Look me in the eye, Nathan…do I look scared?”

Sinister fell silent as he gazed into the cold abyss of her eyes. Selene was every bit as sinister as he was if not more so. She wasn’t scared of him. His brilliance and cunning meant nothing to her. She knew she had leverage on him. She was Black Queen and could put a stop to his efforts by sunset. But she didn’t seem inclined to do so. She seemed to be here for a different reason.

“What do you want? Did Xavier send you?” he demanded

“Of course not. I came on my own accord,” she said as she started pacing around his array of equipment, “You’ve acquired quite an arsenal here, Nathan. I always knew you were a bit of a mad scientist, but I had no idea you were this mad.”

“I’m flattered,” he said snidely.

“Don’t be. I’m not complimenting you,” she said in a cold tone, “Now before we go any further, know that I have not told Xavier anything about your little setup here. He doesn’t know a thing.”

“How can you be sure of that?”

“Because I’m better at keeping secrets than you,” she said with a grin, “And I know you’ll want me to keep yours. And I will, but not without a price.”

“I don’t make deals,” said Sinister sternly.

“Oh you’ll like this one though,” said the Black Queen confidently, “Because for all our differences and our mutual distaste for one another, we have one common thing that ties us together…we both despise Charles Xavier. He’s holding us both back. He’s standing in our way. And he’s too powerful for either one of us oppose alone. But if we work together…well, you see where I’m going with this.”

Sinister didn’t like this woman. He didn’t like her morals, her demeanor, or her dress sense. But she did have a point. He despised Charles Xavier. He always resented working under his thumb, but he had no choice because it was only with Hellfire’s resources that he could further his research. He longed to break free from his control, but Xavier was always a step ahead of him. Selene, however, was a different story. Perhaps she could provide the edge he needed to finally break free.

That wasn’t to say she wouldn’t screw him over. Every part of her gave off a sense of dishonesty and deceit. But if she could at least help oppose Xavier, she might be worth hearing out. It was risky, if not foolhardy. But with his ultimate goal so close to being realized he had to take a chance. After all, he still had his share of fail safes in case she did turn on him.

“I’m listening…” he told her.

Selene smiled sadistically. She had his attention. That was a good first step. They had much to discuss and even more to plan. But first she had to learn a little more about what he was doing. It was to play a key role in what she had in store. To her, Sinister was just another pawn. He was but another part of her very dark vision for the future.

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Up next: The new pawns face difficult tests and new plots are hatched that catch Selene’s interest.