Kurt woke up in a strange room with a start and a gasp. Where am I? What am I- whoa, Kurt Wagner, reign it in, here. Calm down.....
Looking around, Kurt didn't recognize anything. Mostly, everything was dark. Kurt Wagner preferred the dark anyway. He could still see most things in the dark. Most things, however, couldn't see him in the dark. Kurt Wagner preferred advantages like that, too.
Wait a minute, what about Amanda? I was with her just a second ago, before whoever kidnapped us did this to us. Where is she?
There are many parts of the mind that we don't use, at all. Kurt Wagner left like all his experience with the X-Men and with Excalibur had "turned on" and created another part of his mind, a part that only the X-Men would need to use when in danger. He knew, somehow, that all this was familiar. The pattern, the room, the way it all happened felt familiar. In the back of his mind he knew who was doing to him, but he couldn't put a finger on it...he just couldn't figure it-
Suddenly, lights flared on in part of the room he was in. "Hello, 'Comrade' Wagner," a very familiar voice said.
Kurt Wagner had seen many people he cared about die. He had saved many people's lives, and been unable to save plenty of others. He had even seen people he was positive dead come alive. Every time it happened, he never believed it.
"Peter?!" Kurt Wagner exclaimed. "What are you?!" Immediately, he realized that this could not be Peter. Peter was dead, he had seen him die, and in situations that could not be reversed. Whoever was responsible for this, whoever was doing this must not know that.
"Colossus" stepped into the light. Immediately, Kurt recognized his costume. "The Proletarian!" he uttered. So, it was Arcade who had done this.
The fake Colossus walked over to his old friend, and grabbed onto him like he never would have when he was alive. "Urp-*," Kurt mumbled, unable to teleport.
***
Amanda Sefton felt like a freight train had run over her head. She moaned and stood up slowly from where she was lying. "Where-uh-where am I?" she mumbled. Looking around, it almost looked like she back at Muir Island. But that couldn't be....Last she remembered, some strange men had taken her and Kurt away....How did she get back here?
She heard footsteps coming from the hallway. She glanced towards the doorway. Slowly, she saw Piotr Rasputin walk into the room. "Peter?" she asked, quietly. She knew he was dead. What was happening? Was this some sort of dream or something? Wait, Amanda, you can't do anything. You're in no sort of mood to fight anyone. Take stock of the situation first, gather your wits, and then see what happens. Act normal, act normal...
"Hello, comrade," Pete greeted. "Kitty will be here in a moment. We wanted to come down and say hello. How are you feeling?"
"Uh...a little out of it, but I guess I feel better," Amanda lied. Kitty?! But she's lost somewhere! Peter's dead...Kitty's gone...someone must be doing this. It has to be some sort of illusion.
"It is good to see you doing well, Amanda," Peter said. "Very good, indeed." Someone else walked through the doorway and joined us.
"Hey, Amanda! Are you feeling okay now?" Kitty asked, concern all over her face. Peter walked over to Amanda and put his arms around her shoulder. Amanda was acutely aware of his arm. This is all some plan, she thought. It has to be. Some sort of illusion. But what can I do to stop it? She thought of different spells she could cast.
"Um, yes, I-yes, I am," Amanda lied again. Peter's grip tightened, and her mind raced. Yes! The perfect spell! I can turn off all the machines in the area, if this is some sort of Danger Room sequence or something that'll stop it! If not, then the illusion can't be real, and nothing can hurt me.
Peter's grip tightened, and Kitty began to smile strangely. Amanda's mind raced for the right spell.
I have to do it. I have to do it now. I just hope it works, Amanda thought. I really hope it works.
Here goes nothing.
***
"Uhn, uhn," Kurt moaned. What can I do, he worried? What to do? He flailed to no effect. Colossus was far too strong for him, there was no use in trying. He was too weak to teleport, too weak to fight back, too weak to do anything....
Suddenly, Colossus' grip loosened. Kurt fell to the ground. He looked up again and saw nothing but a large, metal robot. "A robot?" he said. Somehow, Arcade's illusion was destroyed. It must've been Amanda. Good, all that training went to some better purpose.
Nightcrawler looked around. He had to get out of the situation before Arcade could throw something else at him. He looked for some air ducts. He'd used them to escape before, plenty of times.
Wherever Amanda was, she'd need some backup.
***
Amanda woke up with a jerk and with a large metal object over her head. She ripped it off, panicked. She threw it on the floor and looked at it. A VR helmet? She glanced around quickly, and saw a freckled redhead standing over a tall, black haired woman. "Um, hi," she greeted. "Let me guess, Arcade, right?"
"Very perceptive of you," Arcade said. "And you've done quite a good job destroying my friend here. But let me tell you, I have absolutely no intention of getting in a fight with an X-Woman. If you'll stay right there, and I know you will, I'll flee out the emergency exit while I still can."
"I don't think so, Arcade!" Amanda shouted. Suddenly, Arcade pushed a button and a large metal wall fell between Amanda and Arcade.
Huh, Oh well, Amanda decided. At least I won. Hey, I won! All by myself, too!
"Hey, sexy!" a voice drifted into the room. "You come here often?" A blue leg kicked an air duct open, and her grinning boyfriend walked into the room.
"You know, Kurt, when I save the day, you should know that you're losing touch," Amanda bragged. "Either that, or I'm just becoming better than you."
"Oh, Amanda, are these words coming out of your mouth?" Kurt swooned into her arms.
"Never thought you'd live to see the day, huh?" Amanda winked at him. "Let's face it, I'm a real X-Woman now!"
"That you are, my love," Kurt grinned. "That you are."
They kissed deeply.
"What'd ya say we get outta here?" Amanda suggested.
"Shall we go home?" Kurt pondered.
"Why not? We've had a good vacation, Brad," Amanda laughed.
"Brad? That's not my name!" Kurt complained.
"Oh, Brad, don't say anything, just sit there and look pretty," Amanda giggled.
And with that, the sound of magic filled the room, and two happy lovers were finally sent home.
To Be Continued
Next: Rahne and Douglock vs. The X-Cutioner! I though since everyone else has fought him, they might as well, too!