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The Ante
Chapter XI: House Rules
(Part 1/2)
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“This is my fault.” Cyclops bowed his head, hands clamped around his biceps. Though he spoke into his chest, the occupants of the War Room heard him clearly.

Displayed in three-dimensional, holographic clarity, a rotating projection turned lazily on the table before them. The stone was large, nearly twelve inches in length, and faceted in such a manner that was too complex for human machines to design, and too perfect to be natural.

It was a garish crimson.

“Alex and I –” he faltered. “We thought we destroyed it. Asteroid M fell. Sanctuary fell. There couldn’t have been anything left.”

“There wasn’t, Scott,” Professor Xavier affirmed. “Progressive scans of the area confirmed it. Magneto’s dream of a unified, super-powered mutant-kind was destroyed with the asteroid.”

Wolverine made a low noise in the back of his throat.

“Uhh… hey? Guys?” Tabitha piped up. “What are we talking about exactly?”

On one side of the large, steel table, the New Mutants who had joined the Institute after the events that led to the rise of Magneto looked between themselves, clearly uncertain of the discussion carried on by the elder members of the team.

Bobby nudged Jubilee, who in turn nudged Amara, who poked Tabitha in the ribs. “Be more specific,” she hissed. Beside her, Sam rolled his eyes, and nodded his head at Scott. Ray frowned a little and peered at Jamie, who stared wide-eyed at the revolving hologram.

Across the table, Kitty cleared her throat. “It’s a little complicated, actually.”

“Professor?” Jean asked. Charles merely nodded his head, his fingers steepled before him as he concentrated. “Well,” Jean began, tapping a button on the control panel and changing the projection. Before them, a three-dimensional asteroid now hovered. The rock face was pitted, dark blue, and interspersed with glittering striations of metallic alloy. Jutting chunks of internal reinforcements marred the entire structure; beams, domes, and causeways dotted its surface.

“Cool,” Jamie hummed.

Ray elbowed him to shut up.

“It was a couple of years ago,” Jean said, casting a sidelong glance at her boyfriend. Scott frowned, not willing to offer his input. “Magneto was still at large, at the time. In fact, it was this particular incident that alerted us to his presence.”

“It was our informal introduction, actually,” Kurt murmured.

“He had modified this asteroid and set it to orbit on Earth’s gravitational current. As you can see, the infrastructure is quite advanced.” Jean pointed to the small dots of light illuminating the rock face. True enough, there were several buildings littering the landscape.

“He intended for only the most worthy of adversaries to coexist on the satellite.”

“Mutants united against the human threat,” Kitty supplied, frowning a little and fingering the two playing cards resting on the table before her. It was an absent gesture that earned a stern look from Wolverine. Kitty dropped her hands.

“What a crackpot,” Tabitha snorted, turning her attention to her nail polish.

“Boom Boom!” Bobby hissed. “Don’t be so insensitive!” He jutted his chin at Scott, who didn’t look up.

“Don’t be such a kiss ass, popsicle!” Tabitha stuck out her tongue.

“How were ‘the worthy’ determined, Jean?” Amara asked.

“We fought,” Jean said.

“We were attacked,” Kurt corrected.

“By the Brotherhood,” Kitty added. “I mean, we were, at least. But only Rogue was chosen.”

Kurt nodded.

Wolverine growled again, his jaw working.

Piotr leaned closer, examining the projection. “And she vos taken to zis place? For vot?”

Jean took a breath. “Blob, Avalanche, Quicksilver, Sabretooth, Storm, the Professor, Rogue, and myself were taken. The Brotherhood fought for what they claimed to be their ‘rightful places’ alongside Magneto.”

“And Jean and I defeated Toad and Mystique, respectively,” Storm added.

“Wolverine pulled a punch at my behest and let Sabretooth take his place,” the Professor continued. “I warned him telepathically, as Magnus had already assumed control of the jet in which I was seated and had brought me to him.”

“Scott,” Jean continued hesitantly, “Scott and his brother Alex –”

“We went by our own volition,” Cyclops murmured.

A hush fell over the room as their leader began to speak. He looked up; his red-tinted glasses reflecting their faces back at them as he gazed at his team. “Magneto had built a chamber into the asteroid – a genetic enhancer that he meant to use to bolster our mutations. We were to become the completely evolved versions of ourselves. It would have given us complete control.”

Scott stood, leaning into Jean a little as he slammed a fist down on the controls that changed the holographic display.

“This stone, the Gem of Cyttorak, fuelled the machine.”

“How Magnus was ever able to obtain the gem…” Xavier trailed off, his eyes fixed on the projection.

“Alex and I, well, since Magneto had invited us and we’d gone willingly, he saw no need to force us against our will. He thought the others would be a liability, though.”

“He imprisoned us in stasis,” Storm contributed darkly. “Four translucent, self-contained environments; they were climate-controlled, of course.”

Beside her, Logan snorted. “What Storm means, kids, is that he stuck them into test tubes for safekeeping. What could you do? Buckethead thought of everything.”

“He trapped us and forced us into slumber so that we would not be capable of using our powers,” Storm said sharply. It was a known fact amongst the X-Men that the weather witch had an acute fear of enclosed spaces.

“I did not see the Gem,” the Professor stated. “I would not have known of its presence were it not for Cyclops’ account of Magneto’s admission afterwards. Erik ensured that particular detail, I am certain.”

“Stripes wouldn’t have seen it, either,” Logan added. “She was locked up and knocked out alongside ya, Chuck. There’s no way she could have recognized it even by absorbing Gumbo’s memories.”

“And Gambit certainly would not know if it’s potential, either,” Storm added. “He is impulsive, but he is not a stupid child. He would not risk himself bodily harm.”

“Child?” Logan cocked an eyebrow.

“We are all children in some way, Wolverine. It is simply a matter to whom,” Storm replied.

“What does it do?” Sam asked. “If it’s just a rock –”

“It’s not just any rock,” Cyclops continued. “Magneto claimed that the Gem emitted a radioactive field, but that’s not entirely accurate.”

“Not at all,” Charles murmured. “I have seen what the Gem can do in its raw form. Magneto processed its energy, and in turn, he was able to manipulate the fields produced by his enhancement chamber.”

“He brainwashed us,” Cyclops admitted bitterly. “He tried to wipe my mind and Alex’s mind. ‘Purge it of unnecessary emotion,’ he said.”

“As a result of Magneto’s tampering, the outcome of both Scott and Alex’s modified mutations were temporary. They exerted themselves entirely, draining themselves of their freshly acquired powers by attempting to destroy Asteroid M when it began to break apart.”

“We succeeded,” Scott murmured. “I thought we had succeeded.”

“You might have, Slim,” Logan rumbled. “At least partially. Chuck? You said you’ve seen what the Gem can do firsthand?”

“I have.” The Professor looked around the table at his X-Men, concern furrowing his brow. “There is one individual who used the Gem of Cyttorak to its maximum capabilities, and because of it, he was changed forever. He became hostile, violent, and uncontrollable. The powers of the Gem activated his latent X-gene, turning a man into something very near a monster. He is unstoppable.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Kurt murmured, casting an uneasy look at Kitty.

Shadowcat leaned forwards intently, pulling her laptop closer and linking to Cerebro’s mainframe through the mansion’s wireless network. In a moment, peering at the Professor over her reading glasses, she sucked in a breath and modified the holographic projection before the team.

“Professor?” Bobby asked fearfully.

“He is my half-brother.” Professor Xavier examined the revolving hologram before him, his face now devoid of expression.

All eyes turned to the center of the table.

“He is now known simply as The Juggernaut.”

A growing silence followed this statement, the tension in the room increasing. Even the new recruits were well versed with Juggernaut’s abilities. He was the nearest thing to a tank on two legs that anyone had ever witnessed. He cared for no one, and literally, nothing could stand in his way.

“That bulldozer?” Ray said after a moment. “You’re related to…?”

“That’s enough Ray,” Jean cut him off sternly.

“He is invulnerable to any form of physical attack,” the Professor continued. “Though he always demonstrated his dislike of our familial relations, it was his envy, indeed, his hatred, amplified by the Gem that shaped his determination to destroy. He cannot be controlled.”

The Professor looked around the table. “Only I have been able to weaken him psychically. He is now in a private detainment centre, suspended in an indefinite slumber.”

“Are you saying,” Kurt began hoarsely, “that if meine schwester were to use the Gem like Gambit did… that she’d… she’d… turn into something like…”

“Gambit has not demonstrated any indication of that,” Jean said firmly.

“Jean’s right.” Scott let out a breath. “Hank would have seen that in the readouts. Excessive violence, or…”

“More stupidity than usual?” Logan snorted. After a moment, he subsided, muttering, “Sorry, Chuck.”

“There is no indication of such behavior, no,” Henry said. Several members of the team looked up to the spot overhead where Henry hung upside down, clinging securely to the pipes crisscrossing the ceiling. Jamie jumped, unaware of the doctor’s presence up until that moment, and scattered himself into several copies – one of which knocked Ray off his chair, and another of which landed in Tabitha’s lap. The clone smiled sheepishly, vanishing a moment later.

“The stupidity, or…?” Logan pressed, ignoring the replicated mutants dusting themselves off.

“Violent, aberrant, or hostile behavior,” Hank affirmed. “Gambit is much cleverer than you give him credit for, Logan. The tests have indicated two possibilities – either Gambit’s control over his powers, his psionic shield, his ability to manipulate and excite matter of a molecular level have surpassed our database’s estimated calculations. In turn, he would be capable of suppressing his innate abilities and siphoning off only a portion to Rogue when he permitted her to absorb him, or,” he paused, glancing at the Professor, “the genetic enhancement was incomplete.”

“Which would indicate instability.” The Professor nodded thoughtfully. “Or perhaps, only a portion of the Gem’s powers were accessed,” he added.

“Or maybe the Gem itself is only a fragment of the original stone,” Scott muttered. “Maybe it can’t do the same sort of damage if it was broken when Asteroid M was destroyed.”

“Would you use a broken razor blade, Cyclops?” Logan asked.

Scott looked up, paused, and then shook his head.

“You’d do a helluva lot more damage to yourself if ya did,” he ground out. “What’s there to say if the Gem’s busted, and Stripes is thinking of using it?”

“A very good analogy, Logan,” Hank said. “As it were, our database reports that an alien crystal such as this –”

“Alien?” Ray squawked. “You’re not serious?”

Tabitha elbowed him; her interest was finally perked by the ongoing conversation.

“Its origins are debatable,” the Professor conceded, “though it is widely held that the Gems, for indeed there are several, were not human conception. The myths surrounding them are steeped in mystical tradition and cult worship.”

“They are said to be the instruments of Cyttorak himself,” Storm added. “Cyttorak was a vastly powerful sentient entity banished from earth millennia ago. The stone is said to be imbued with his powers.”

“What’s the worst case scenario?” Logan asked, abruptly ending the history lesson before the kids could get themselves worked up over E.T. He leaned forward to examine the hologram again.

Hank shook his head. “We do not know Gambit’s exact condition. I could offer you a probability ratio of the outcome if Rogue was to use the Gem, but my hypothesis would be purely speculative.”

“Then guess,” Logan ground out.

“Fatality seems improbable,” Hank replied, a little flatly.

“That’s it? You’re saying it won’t kill her?” Kurt asked, aghast.

“There are worse things than death in this case, I am afraid,” the Professor murmured.

“Well, like, that’s reassuring!” Kitty cried, tossing her arms into the air. “Sorry, Professor,” she added sheepishly. Her hands had returned to the King and Queen of Hearts.

Kurt slumped backwards into his chair.

“What I want to know is, how the hell did Gumbo get his hands on that rock?” Logan interjected, jabbing a finger onto the surface of the table for emphasis.

“I think I can answer that,” Scott murmured, frowning at the hologram.

Beside him, Jean’s eyes widened. “Oh no…”

“Was?” Kurt sat up again, leaning across the table.

“There were only two people left on the asteroid before it crashed,” Scott muttered. “One of them is presently in custody up at Redwood Pines respite home, and the other has been unaccounted for since…”

“Scheiße!” Kurt swore, standing up, realization making his face pale despite the thin coating of blue fur.

“Sit down, Kurt,” the Professor warned.

“You can’t be serious!” he near-shouted. “I knew it. I knew she’d be back! She’s been waiting for an opportunity to hurt us since we told her we wanted nothing to do with her after Apocalypse!”

“What?” Kitty asked, swiveling in her seat. “Kurt, calm down.” She stood, tugging on his arm and pulling him back down. “What are you talking about?”

Nightcrawler remained tense, curling his knees against his chest and flicking his tail irritably against the table. He brushed Kitty’s reassuring hand off.

“Mystique obviously hasn’t learned her lesson. Rogue will…” Kurt turned to Kitty, eyes wide. “She’ll kill her.”

“That’s assuming Rogue knows its Mystique behind it,” Scott interjected.

“You don’t think Gambit would –”

“Shadowcat,” Scott cut her off. “This is a worst case scenario. We can’t determine whether or not Mystique has hired out Gambit to bring Rogue to her at this point.”

“Was?” Kurt’s head snapped around, his expression darkening.

“However,” Scott continued, “it’s a fair assumption that’s what happened. Mystique and Magneto were the last two people off that asteroid, and considering Magneto is presently incapacitated –”

“Amnesic,” Bobby supplied.

“A vegetable,” added Tabitha with a snigger.

“Boom Boom!” Ray snapped.

Tabitha shrunk a little in her seat, making a face but falling silent nonetheless.

Logan sniffed. “Chuck?” he raised an eyebrow.

Slowly, the Professor nodded. “I will visit Joseph. He will not remember, but perhaps if certain… selective… memories of his were unlocked, we may find proof that it was indeed Mystique who secured the Gem.”

“Cyke?” Logan asked, standing. “What’s the game plan?”

Scott stiffened, slipping into his role as the leader with little difficulty though it was clear he was none too pleased about taking the suggestion from Logan to get moving.

“I want a small team. Iceman, Colossus, prepare the jet. Storm will pilot. You five,” he pointed at Amara, Ray, Tabitha, Jubilee, and Jamie, “are staying here. I want live feeds. You track them, you determine their destination, and you provide Kitty with the digital readouts. I want twenty-four-hour surveillance. I want to know where Gambit’s taking Rogue, and I want you to find out if Mystique is within a fifty-mile radius of that location.”

He paused, turning to Kurt and Kitty. “Shadowcat, you’re on the receiving. Get in the jet.” She nodded quickly, and with one last look at Kurt, she phased through her seat, and through the floor. With her, the cards had disappeared.

“Nightcrawler?”

Kurt looked up at him, three-fingers of each hand balled into fists against his shins. His tail made a hollow bonking sound against the table leg where he sat.

“If you’re going to be a liability, I’m leaving you here,” Cyclops warned.

“She’s my sister,” he spat. “This is personal. I’m going.” With that, Kurt ported out in a puff of sulfur.

Cyclops nodded, turning to the Professor and to Hank. “We will be back in no more than twenty-four hours. Our objective is to obtain Rogue, detain Gambit, and, if she’s there, detain Mystique.”

“Hey, kid,” Logan called. “I’m coming.” He nodded to Jean. “If Gambit’s working for Mystique now, there’s no telling what the pair of them have cooked up. You’ll need all the firepower that you can get.”

For a moment, it appeared that Scott’s mouth had disappeared into his chin; his lips were pressed together so hard that they’d gone white.

“You sure this isn’t your way of saying you’d rather skewer Gambit personally?” Jean asked wryly, sauntering towards the door.

Logan chuckled, swaggering out of the War Room behind her, though not without cutting off Scott first. “Red, ya gotta stop peekin’ into my head.”

“That would be unethical,” Cyclops interjected tersely.

“Then Red knows me far too well, Cyke,” Logan’s voice trailed off as they rounded the corner.

“Hank,” the Professor hummed after his X-Men had filed out of the room to prepare.

Henry craned his head back a moment, and deciding he’d much rather prefer to talk to the man face to face, he swung overhand and dropped to the ground a few feet away.

“Is it possible?” he asked after a moment. “I was so certain that Gambit’s intentions were honest…”

“How did he read, Charles?” Henry asked after a moment. The Professor was an idealist, after all, but it was a rare occasion when his judgment of a mutant’s character was this inaccurate. Hank himself had been near-convinced by Gambit’s behavior – the boy’s methods were certainly questionable, but the intent behind them?

Privately, he had hoped that by convincing Rogue to use her powers again, Gambit had reached her in a way that no one else had even dared.

The Professor shook his head. “He did not, my friend. He did not,” he replied with a sigh. “While Gambit’s mental shields proved far too strong, his assurance had been enough to placate my concerns… At the time.”

Henry McCoy raised an eyebrow but did not press the matter.

“Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.” He nodded consolingly. “They will find her, Charles, Rogue and Gambit both. Perhaps you may find that you have been correct in your assumptions all along.”

“I can only hope, Henry.”

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