PALE REIGN OVER GESHEM -CHAPTER 24 by Abyss DISCLAIMER: All characters and ideas that are the property of Marvel Comics are used without permission, for no profit, except for the experience, which isn't taxable just yet. All ideas, concepts, and the story itself are the property of the author. This work may not be sold. It may not be archived without the author's permission, but he's pretty easy going, so just ask... tho why anyone would want to keep my scribblings around I can't imagine... I'm baaaAAAAaaaack! Yes, Abyss is back, and so are those three musketeers of mutantdom, Scott, Scott and Scott, aka Cyke, the Prelate and Scott, along with a whole slew of supporting cast. Good news... Pale Reign...' is complete, all 36 chapters of it, to be posted for your reading pleasure.... If you're looking for past chapters, they are kindly archived by Lori at http://web2.spydernet.com/lori/x-men.htp, along with a lot of other great fan-fic stuff. One last note... I want feedback. Anything and everything is appreciated, even just a short note saying you liked it, you hated it, you're my long lost evil clone... anything really. Keep the faith Abyss ------------------------------------------------ "De tunnel split here. One go to an antechamber right behind the gatehouse... but the other... it should take y'all into the inner castle, assumin' ya don't get losted ." Cyclops felt that familiar sensation he got just before walking into a combat situation. Life long training had developed an instinct to review and play out possible scenarios in his head. The more information he had, the more scenarios he could consider. "Explain that, Gambler. We need to know what we're getting into." "Of course, your Lordship, of course..." The Gambler flashed his grin and continued, " >From what we know, Corpse Face got all his preyers in the throne room, so if he gonna release em, he just gotta open the doors and drop the drawbridge." "So all we have to do is keep those doors closed." "Yep... thassall. O'course, the Soulsworn may not be so quick ta let that happen. Now, if milady Hunter be correct, de queen and de Shaman be in the upper audience chamber... and the Mage somewhere thereabouts as well, yes?" Cyclops looked to the Hunter, who nodded. He looked back at the Gambler. "De second tunnel lets ya get ta the inside o' the castle mos' quick like. But ya gotta pass through de mess o' tunnels that be under there, an I not so sure ye won't get lost without me." Another voice cut in, causing them all to whirl around in the tunnel they had been following, ready for anything. "And the path to the gate is just as confusing." Lustre was there. She had traded her dress and blouse for a regal set of armor, the plates circular and covering every inch of her, except her hands. Her face was framed in a hood of chainmail. A green and purple tabard covered her torso. Cyclops had met Belladonna, Gambit's wife in his own world. Her assassin's armor had not been too different from this. "I see you managed not to lose him, Hunter. Thank you. I would've hated to have to kill you." There was equal parts ice and amusement in her tone. Cyclops braced himself for anything. The scenarios running through his mind at that instant weren't at all pleasant, and most of them revolved around a clash between the two women. "Had I wanted to keep him, witch, rest assured losing him would never occur to me. I thought you were off saving your silver." Lustre's reply was smothered as the Gambler stepped up and kissed her full on the lips. Their embrace lasted a long minute or more, to the point Cyclops was considering saying something when they disengaged. "Milady Lustre be a magician wit'out peer, my friends. I ask her to join us, once business was seen to." "And you should be grateful. The Pale Man is a powerful sorcerer." Lustre's tone suggested she wasn't impressed, but something in her eyes suggested otherwise. "We're wasting time." Cyclops glanced at the Prelate. He had been growing more and more agitated as they had approached the castle. The anxiety in his voice was plain, and Scott Summers had to wonder if his other self would be up to the challenges at hand. "I'm going to stop the preyers." Tempting as it was, Cyclops couldn't leave it at that. "You can't go alone." "Who's coming with me then, Scott. You?" The Hunter answered. "He cannot. We need at least one of you with us. I must free the Mage, and I`ll be able to find him easier than most..." She trailed off, looking at the thief and the witch. The Gambler and Lustre looked at each other. "It appears, m'love, that we be all dat's standin' tween Pasty Face an' the Land." "And as usual, you leave all the hard work upon me, dearheart." Lustre turned to the others. Her green eyes had a steely glint, and Cyclops saw the Gambler take her hand as she spoke. " I join you all. Should there be spell-play, you'll need me." That said with a pointed look at the Hunter. "Which leaves me ta keep doom'n'gloom boy here company ta block de gate. Hades, I usually gotta get in an outta places, not keep others inside em." Cyclops turned to the Prelate, then looked at the Gambler. Neither looked especially thrilled, but it seems the plan was set. "We'll try to take out the Pale Man quickly. That may take the fight out of these preyers. Watch out for the bandits though." "You watch out for Sinister, Scott. Here or in any other world, he's not to be underestimated." Cyclops couldn't help it, he stared at the mirror-image standing across from him, a distorted reflection from a world that wasn't his. That had been exactly what he was thinking. A thousand replies flashed through his mind, a thousand scenarios demanded discussion... and he left it at "I know. Be careful." The Prelate nodded once, then headed up the tunnel. The Hunter stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Yes. Be careful." It took the Prelate a moment to reply and then only with a nod. Cyclops turned to find Lustre and the Gambler embracing once again. Again, he stopped himself from saying anything. They disengaged, and shared a look that spoke volumes, then the Gambler turned and sprinted after the Prelate's flickering torch. Lustre looked to Stephanie, then to Cyclops. Cyclops started revising his plans to include her as he spoke. "Let's move." * * * It... Was... GLORIOUS! Energy flooded his every spark of awareness. Flows and currents of power hidden from him stood revealed, and all about him, the preyers absorbed the fountain of his power, and fed it back to him. He was life, they were unlife, to which he had given life. Decades of recruiting the Soulsworn, of investing each with a small spark of his own self, a spark that fed and grew even as it gifted the soulsworn with the vitality beyond most men... a spark that became a raging inferno, incinerating the souls of the men, and reforging them into an extension of his will... into a force of death, with which he would control all life... forging them into the preyers. The Pale Man raised his arms, revelling in the spell wrought power flowing about him. Not since he had first bargained away his own soul to a demon in exchange for immortality had he felt so rapturous... and this was just the beginning. The bond between himself and the preyers was almost forged, and when it was complete, he would release them, and they would go forth, and bring death. Each life they extinguished would be another fragment of unlife to strengthen his hold on the Heart of the Land... and when the hold was strong enough... when he held to land herself in a grip of death... then would he take what he had worked towards for untold ages. Around him, the preyers cowered. The Pale Man stretched out his arms, and they rose up, some on two legs, some on all fours, feral eyes gazing at him, long teeth glistening wetly in human like jaws. The Pale Man revelled in their stares. It was almost time to make the Land his own... * * * END CHAPTER 24