PALE REIGN OVER GESHEM - CHAPTER 20 by Abyss 

DISCLAIMER: All characters and ideas that are the property of Marvel Comics are used without permission, for no profit. This work may not be resold. It may be redistributed in its original form.

And on a less formal note, comments, criticisms... even just a short E-mail saying `I liked it.' are much appreciated. Keep the faith. 
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They had been running for what seemed like miles when the Hunter decided enough was enough. She sprinted next to the Gambler, who had been leading them on this mad race.

"Where are we going?"

"There be tunnels that run under de castle, but first we gotta clear outta here." Stephanie glanced over her shoulder. She, Cyclops, the Prelate, and Katherine were all that was left of the original force. The Gambler had sent many off to aid in the evacuation, and others had been lost to pitched battles with soulsworn bandits who attacked with ferocity and fought to the death. She turned back to the Gambler as they rounded a narrow corner at full speed. 

"How do you know...?" A wave of heat stopped her question and the run at the same time. The others stopped barely steps behind he as the tunnel before them roared with a flame that appeared from nowhere... and was gone in an instant. In its place stood a single woman, her red hair framing a face with eyes that seemed to echo with the flames of an instant before. The Gambler stepped forward, his staff held up and ready. Cyclops moved to his shoulder, Katherine to the other, and Stephanie sensed the Prelate standing at her own. The woman's voice was harsh, her mad grin humourless

"Hello fools... and goodbye." Bandits spilled out of the corridor around her, weapons ready. The Gambler had his staff spinning as he leapt forward, Katherine at his side. He shouted as he attacked.

"But we jus' met!" His first attack took down three bandits, the whirling staff snaking around weapons to strike face, neck and knee. Four bandits rushed him, ready to overwhelm the thief. They were unprepared when a slim girl with wickedly curved blades emerged from the shadow at the Gambler's feet and leapt amongst them, cutting them down. For an instant, Stephanie watched Katherine fight. *That one, the Mage will want to recruit.* She spared no more time for thought, baring her own blades and blocking a sword with the hilt-guard of one, striking into the exposed armpit of the attacker with the other. The man screamed as he fell, another bandit rushing to take his place, red eyes glowing under the hood they all wore. A leather boot extended near her side and knocked the man away. Stephanie didn't need to look to know the Prelate had joined the fight. She didn't bother thanking him, there would be time later, if they lived. An narrow beam of red force lashed out and took down another bandit. *And with power like that, we may just emerge alive AND victorious.* *** When the bandits had rushed them Cyclops had been by the side of the Gambler, but when the other had rushed to meet the attack, Cyclops had stepped back, evaluating in the moment the Gambler had bought him. *The red-haired woman is the leader, and some kind of pyrokinetic. I can't let her remain a threat.* Thought and action were one. An optic blast hit the floor and ricocheted about the tunnel, knocking out nearby bandits like a small whirlwind. As intended, for a moment there was no one between the leader of the bandits and himself. Cyclops ran forward into the tunnel. The woman saw him coming, but he was sure there was no way for her to dodge. A blast of crimson force flew from his raised visor and towards the waiting target... and when it struck, it scattered only air, because suddenly the woman was not there. Cyclops stood his ground, watching, waiting... *There.* A pile of ash slid across the floor towards him. A wide optic blast pulverized it, and a moment later the woman was lying there on hands and knees, eyes staring pure fury at him. Cyclops hesitated only an instant at striking a downed opponent, and a huge figure stepped out of the darkness of the tunnel and struck at him... a figure he knew, and so he hesitated. He barely managed to roll with the blow enough so that his skull wasn't crushed before darkness took him, and the sounds of the battle in the tunnel behind faded away.