Poisoned Chalice

"You lying son of a bitch," Evan snarled. "Did you really think I would be that stupid?"

Empath nursed his injured jaw where Evan had punched him and got up from the Hellion's lab floor. "The thought had occurred to me…"

"You've been playing me since day one," Evan got in his face. "Well now that's gonna change."

"Oh please, let's not get so over dramatic," Empath got right back in there. "I'm only doing what's best. You know Magneto and the Hellfire Club aren't exactly that different. If both have the Bio Pulse twice as many mutants can be evolved. Look what happened in New York with one accidental burst! There may be nearly a thousand new mutants now in that city alone!"

"Yeah but at least the Hellfire Club would wait a while before trying it out!" Evan shouted.

"What's to try out? We know it works! That's the trouble with you Spyke, you're so slow to motivate. I don't even know why someone as irresponsible as you is in charge!"

"You're jealous…" Evan's eyes narrowed. "You wanted to lead the Hellions didn't you? But when Monet got chosen and then me…"

"Who do you think gave you that little push so you could shoot those spikes of yours at Cyclops?" Empath told him. "Of course it's not your fault that blonde bimbo got in the way."

"Tabitha…"Evan felt himself shaking. "That was you?"

"Don't sell yourself short," Empath said. "All I did was give you the right motivation."

"You've had plenty of motivation yourself," Emma walked into the room with the other Hellions. "It all makes sense now. Other than Monet you were the only other one whose thoughts were closed to me. But I've always sensed ambition in you."

"But you chose him over me!" Empath growled.

"Spyke's our leader now," Tarot growled. "For good or ill he's in charge. If we can deal with it, you can."

"Oh he'll have to deal with more than that," Emma told her. "We all know how you're Magneto's little spy. Quite an enterprising little psychopath aren't you?"

"You tried to frame me you little creep," Monet snarled. "I'm gonna enjoy tearing you into pieces!"

"Sorry, but I have other…" Empath attempted to take something out of his jacket but his arm got pinned to the wall by Evan's spikes.

"You should really work on your reflexes," Evan grinned as he pinned the rest of Empath by his clothes.

"So do we beat him up now or do we wait until after fifth period?" Beef punched his fist into his open hand.

"I think Spyke has a better idea," Emma looked at Evan. "Don't you?"

"Yeah, he wants to work with Magneto so much, let's send him to him…" Evan got a great idea.

"I gotta admit Spyke, you got style," Beef grinned as the Hellions observed the scene in the helicopter.

"Well Shaw did give us orders to take care of the traitor as best we saw fit," Monet grinned. "I say this fits quite nicely."

"Yeah killing him would have been too easy," James laughed as he took a picture. "And Frost couldn't wipe his mind anyway…"

"I think the spanking she gave him was much more entertaining," Roulette laughed.

"You would," Tarot said. "But this is the icing on the cake!"

In the mountains a bruised, beaten and very naked Empath was left on the ground. His hands were tied in front of him so that he could cover himself as best he could. On his back and shoulders were some scattered chicken feathers held there by crazy glue. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" He shouted.

"Uh, I think we just did," James grinned.

"Don't worry Empath," Evan said. "Magneto has a base about two miles north from here. We think. If I were you, I'd start jogging. Gets pretty cold at night which is…In about five minutes."

"Consider this your expulsion from the Massachusetts Academy," Emma said as the helicopter took off.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS DANIELS!" Empath shouted. "IF IT'S THE LAST THING I EVER DO!"

Three days later…

"You sure this is gonna work?" Evan asked.

"Of course it will work," The school's doctor said as he prepared the serum. "Sinister said it would."

"I'm glad he's not here giving it to me," Evan grunted.

"Take it easy Evan," Tarot squeezed his hand. "I'm right here."

"You might want to step back in case this doesn't work," Evan told her.

The doctor injected him. "Now this may take a moment and there may be some discomfort," He warned.

"Hey I think I can handle a little…Uggh!" Evan grunted as his spikes regressed into his body. Soon they dwindled down into him. The pain stopped. "Did it work?"

"See for yourself," Tarot pointed to a mirror.

Evan looked at his reflection. He was taller and more muscular than he expected to be. His hair color had faded with time and was now a very pale yellow and black and he looked older, but it was his face and body with no spikes in sight.

"I'm…Me again," Evan touched his face. "I can't believe it!"

"Try a spike on your arm," The doctor suggested. Evan did so then retracted it.

"I…I can control my powers again!" Evan cried out in joy. "I'm me again! Wahoo!" He picked up Tarot and whirled him around.

"Evan it's a miracle!" Tarot kissed him.

"You'll need to take a shot at least once a week," The doctor informed him.

"I'll take it!" Evan whooped.

"Well I see the procedure was a success," Emma walked in. "I'm happy for you Evan."

"Oh teach, I mean Ms. Frost thank you!" Evan said. "This…This is more than what I dreamed of! I feel like you gave me my life back!"

"Well thank Sinister for that actually," Emma told him. "But it's the least you deserve after what you've done for us. Of course you realize this means you can't get out of the dress code anymore."

"Hey at least I don't have to lug around that plate of armor!" Evan grinned.

"I'd like to speak to Evan in private may I?" Emma asked. Tarot and the Doctor left the room. "There's only one thing remaining," Emma frowned. "Where's Cypher?"

"He…Had a problem with our agenda," Evan told her. "Shaw told me to deal with him. I cornered him in a warehouse filled with gas, lit a fire spike at him and…Well you can guess the rest."

"No…" Emma's heart raced. "You didn't you…" She then read his thoughts. "I see. Well I suppose there really was no other choice was there? Considering the alternative."

"Shaw told me to deal with him however I saw fit," Evan said. "I thought it was the best way."

Some time later…

"Well, I take it everything went well?" Blackjack asked. He was in his private quarters.

"Perfectly," Empath grinned as he walked in. "Magneto welcomed me with open arms. It's funny, Frost was so sure I was his spy and Magneto was convinced that I believed in his cause. It never occurred to either of them that they were being used. Of course I would have liked to stay longer at the Academy than I would have liked…Not to mention leaving the way I did!"

"Don't worry my friend," Blackjack grinned. "That was merely a stepping stone. The information you obtained will make us all more powerful. In a few years, the three of us will be running the Inner Circle."

"Three?" Empath asked.

"Yes," Mastermind walked out of the shadows. "I'm tired of Magneto running my life. Being at his beck and call like some kind of lap dog."

"He'll get what he deserves," Blackjack grinned.

"And then we'll get what we deserve," Empath grinned. "And what want most is revenge on Spyke!"

"What about Legion?" Mastermind asked. "He worries me the most right now."

"Don't worry," Blackjack grinned. "Let's just say I've got him under control. I got him to keep the X-Men busy didn't I?"

"How did you do that?" Empath asked.

"Oh let's just say they were busy with a…family affair that became a power failure," Blackjack grinned.

It had been a hard week at the institute. But now things had finally settled down. There was a ring at the doorbell. Kitty answered it only to get a shock.

"Doug? What are you doing here?" Kitty asked.

"Hey Kitty," Doug smiled. His clothes were torn and he looked a little bruised. "I was wondering…Can I speak to Professor Xavier? I'd like to join the Institute."

So what was the 'distraction' Blackjack provided to deal with the X-Men and the Misfits? Find out next exciting story!