Disclaimer: I don’t own X-men or Marvel but I will one day! Just you see!

Summary: It’s been a year since Apocalypse was defeated, and things are moving fine for the team. However, something terrible is about to take place and it has twenty victims in mind…Follows Essence of Malevolence.

Couples: Romy, Jott, Jonda, Lice, Rolo, Kiotr, Juno, Anlocke, Sabitha, Domcable, NealBetsyWarren, and. JonoJubileeRayScaleface

I like to thank everyone who reviewed: Prexistence, and Pyro Lady

Ripped Away

Killing Her All Along

“Jono.” Jubilee repeated. She was unsure if the image before them was even real. She studied his face, noticing the mix of worry and anger. Why would he be mad? Oh, right, Ray was there with her. Her lip quivered. This could be another illusion like the video footage of Wolverine. Maybe if she reached out and touched him, she would be able to determine if he was actually real or not. However, if it really was Jono he might push her back. He could still be quite upset with her.

Jubilee was then caught off guard by Jono thrusting forward and wrapping his arms around her. Jubilee’s eyes widened as he did this. He was hugging her so tightly that he had lifted her off of the ground. He was real.

Jubes he whispered, not letting her go. Jubilee didn’t have to turn her head to know Jono was receiving a mean glare from Ray. She bit her lip. When Jono received no response to his words, he let her go. Jono then looked into her eyes. Are yer okay?

“Huh? Oh…fine…I’m fine…great really. I mean, I jus busted outta my cell, and now I got my own team, and I survived those torture things. I’m awesome, Jono, just awesome.” She ranted. Jono still looked at her and held her close once again. This was odd. Maybe his worry for her well being had overcome his anger about her and Ray. She breathed in and looked towards the still staggering Domino. Cable had caught eye of the weak young woman and had approached her. They had been staring at each other for sometime. Not long after he came closer to her, she collapsed on him, rolling her eyes when he caught her.

“You really know how to show a girl a good time. Dinner, the park, being kidnapped by mutant hunting robots, mutant prison. Where do you get your ideas, Nate?” Domino mumbled. Cable just smiled at her and held her close so she wouldn’t fall again.

“Okay, so anyone wana tell me what you guys are doing running around, we thought you were all being imprisoned or something.” X-23 sneered. Quicksilver shrugged.

“Gee, and we’d hate to see them free.” He snapped. X-23 rolled her eyes and pushed him backwards.

“Nice to see you guys alive, where are the other prisoners?” she continued.

“In their cells, I was guna get em, but most of em are so broken…I couldn’t. I’m surprised Domino and I can still move, to be honest. Kitty can’t move yet.” Jubilee answered.

“What were they doing here?” Jean asked.

“It doesn’t matter. We’re fine. I could do cartwheels.” Domino hushed. The team stood around for a few minutes before Sage stepped forward.

“Our task is still the same, we just have some help along for the ride.” She announced.

“We’re not guna be much help. We don’t even have our powers.” Jubilee insisted.

What? What happened to em? Jono questioned. Jubilee gestured to the big yellow collar around her neck.

“These. We were on our way to try and find a way to shut em off.” She assured.

“I can help.” X-23 spoke up, unleashing a set of her claws. Kitty shook her head fiercely.

“No, you can’t. You need the key.” She yelped.

“Fine, while we explore we will search for one.” Sage muttered, beginning to lead the way down the next hallway. Jubilee was about to walk with them when Jono grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

Oi’m glad yer okay, gel he told her.

“Wanda, do you hear that?” Pyro whispered, his eyes leering into all noticeable dark corners. Scarlet Witch shook her head and grabbed his hand, pulling him forward. She forcibly dragged him towards the others.

“I don’t see anything; you’re just being paranoid, given where we are and all. Now c’mon, you’re making me fall behind.” She urged.

“I heard something. I think we’re being followed.” He insisted. Scarlet Witch rolled her eyes. She turned around to face him and tell him directly that no one was lagging behind them. However, when she did move, she gave a slight gasp. Pyro was right.

“Morlocks.” She spat as Callisto and Scaleface stepped out of the darkness. Callisto nodded at them both while Pyro called for the others to turn around.

“What are you doing here?” Cyclops demanded.

“Two of our own are being held here. We came to take them back to the Morlock tunnels, just like we first decided when we allowed ourselves to stay at your mansion.” Callisto sneered.

“Ya, we’re here for Ray and Sarah, not any of your X-men.” Scaleface added in. Cyclops sighed.

“We’re not going after the prisoners. If you two want to find the missing Morlocks then go and find Storm’s team. I can get you co-ordinates.” He assured.

“We already saw Storm’s team. We’d rather be along side of Gambit than that horrid witch, Malice.” Scaleface snapped up.

“Malice is not dere, dat’s Lorna!” Gambit spoke up, a rather angry tone in his voice. Rogue stepped up beside him.

“Ah wouldn’t go by callin’ Wanda’s sister a witch, being that’s an insult to both of em. And trust me, one of th’ last people ya wana get mad is Wanda Maximoff.” She pointed out.

“Same face, same woman, same monster. She helped Sinister slaughter us, not that Gambit is much better for being there either. But we didn’t see him kill anyone.” Callisto scoffed. Scarlet Witch frowned and held up her glowing hand.

“Better watch what ya say, kid.” Wolverine huffed.

“I stand by my word, and Scaleface’s.” Callisto uttered. “Now what is it that you are doing if you aren’t rescuing mutants?”

“We’re going to find who’s in charge and take em down a few notches.” Rogue replied. When she spoke, Gambit’s focus laid on her. She bit her lip, feeling the stare of his eyes on her. It was making her feel a bit awkward. The two hadn’t spoken for a little while, and she knew he was going to get more words in before the mission was over.

“Fine. We’ll go with you and avenge Sarah and Ray. I’m sure Malice, being the hero that she is will help everyone get out okay. Or Ray will kill her on sight.” Scaleface nodded.

“If ya wana find Ray so bad, Shugah, go find Sage’s team. She contacted us a few minutes ago saying they found Jubilee, Ray, Kitty and Domino wandering through a hallway.” Rogue explained. Scaleface glared at her.

“Of course he was with her.” she said bitterly. “I’d rather go hurt the people responsible for his capture then see him make google eyes at Jubilee all the day.”

“Isn’t it goo goo?” Pyro asked aloud. Scarlet Witch smirked at him.

“You would know, wouldn’t you?” she teased, receiving an eye roll from him.

“Both of you shut up. We have to keep going.” Wolverine growled. Cyclops nodded at him and continued to lead the way to a rather heavy door.

“Who wants to make a passage way?” He asked. Wolverine stepped forward without a sound and began to slash it open. The team made their way through very quickly.

“Oh mah gawd.” Rogue whispered. They had come across a room of heavily armed guards.

“Keep going, I can sense Warren!” Psylocke exclaimed as she raced along side of Storm. “He’s so weak…so many of them are. Oh god, something’s wrong with a whole lot of them.”

“Just keep going, we’ll find them and help them.” Colossus insisted. Polaris grimaced as she fell behind. She grabbed hold of her stomach and groaned. She was feeling so horrible right now. Those sunglasses couldn’t hide what was happening to her anymore. She just hoped they would all go ahead, not realizing she had fallen behind. She could wait until the mission was over to get checked out, she really could. However, her body was starting to disagree with her. She could feel something swirling within her, and it wasn’t very pleasant. She looked up at the ceiling and hoped that they would keep on going, forgetting about her.

Of course with her boyfriend being on the team, she knew that was very unlikely. She leaned against the wall and breathed in heavily. She stared towards the floor. Her body was beginning to shake. She continued to keep hold of her stomach to try and contain the pain, but it did nothing. She gave a slight moan, wishing she could just hold it all in until they were finished rescuing the prisoners.

“Lorna?” Iceman called. Polaris gasped and attempted to stand up. She smiled as he approached her.

“Bobby, you’re falling behind.” She pointed out, trying to disguise the weakness she felt.

“You’ve been falling behind for a while. Something wrong?” he asked her, trying to take hold of her hand. She pulled back, making sure he didn’t touch her. He couldn’t feel her shaking. He’d get worried about her and then the mission wouldn’t matter anymore.

But it did. Helping free the mutants was more important than a slight illness.

“I’ll catch up, just tired.” She whispered. Iceman sighed and reached up to touch her face. He gasped. She was colder than he was, and that said something. His expression quickly softened even more so.

“What’s wrong?” he repeated. Polaris just smiled and took off her sunglasses. She let them drop to the floor. She closed her eyes and continued to lean against the wall.

“I’m tired.” She uttered. Iceman frowned and began to try and hold her up. She reopened her eyes when she fell into his arms. “Tired, Bobby. Doesn’t matter, keep going.”

“Lorna?” he exclaimed. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

“I’m fi-“she started before she finally passed out in his arms.

“X, you okay?” Quicksilver asked as he walked beside her. She shrugged and folded her arms. “We haven’t really talked since..”

“If you’re asking me if we’re back together, please don’t, because I don’t know.” She admitted.

“I wasn’t asking. I think the answers pretty clear.” He responded. She rolled her eyes.

“Just like that, huh? Hmmph, all it takes is a kiss from Pietro Maximoff to make it all right again.” She snapped. “Though, it did even things out a bit. I know how I feel, no matter how much I hate myself for it.”

“So we are back together?”

“I told you not to ask me that!” she exclaimed. “Ugh, whatever. I know I still care for you, god only knows why. You’re annoying, you are cocky, you smell like Axe(1) every second of the day, your hair is so friggen weird, and you just drive me to insanity.”

“Is this part where you proclaim your undying love for me?” he smirked.

“No, this is the part where I let you live, and let you be my boyfriend again.” She sighed. “But I sware, you ever pull a Crystal on me again, and I promise you….I really promise you that nothing would ever happen between us again. Oh, and I’ll kill you.”

“Seems fair. Like the usual X-23 comment.” He shot back.

“I’m being serious.” She scoffed. “But whatever, we have to keep going so shut up.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“So ya were worried?” Jubilee whispered.

Not as much as Ray was, Oi guess. He did come to get yer. Jono replied.

“You were smarter to stay back, Jono. Thanks for trying to save me, even thought I saved my own butt.” She smiled.

Don’t mention it gel Jono mumbled as Ray stuck his head in between the two of them. He glared at Jono and tried to push him out of the way.

“You’re looking weak, Jubilee. I think I should have to carry you again.” He offered. Jubilee shook her head.

“I’m fine, really. Just talking with Jono over here as the team explores.” She stated. “Why don’t you scout ahead and see if there’s anything we need to be aware of. Don’t wana get caught off guard by some ya know, guards?”

“Fine.” Ray gritted. “It’s not like I will get to say anything. He’s here now.”

Jubilee frowned as she watched Ray walk ahead of everyone. She rolled her eyes and began to walk after him. Before she could get a hold of him, a huge explosion suddenly threw out at the beginning of the next hallway, taking Ray along with it. Jubilee’s eyes widened.

“RAY!” she screamed, running towards the blast of smoke.

To Be Continued…..

(1) axe the cologne

Next Chapter: Oh noes, people die!

A/N: I hope everyone liked this and please review!