DISCLAIMER: All characters in this story are property of Marvel Inc., and
I'm not making a profit from this, so don't sue me. Except from Helios and
Glow, who are my own exclusive property. They may not be used without my
expressed permission.

X-Men: Yin Yang Part 8/?- 

Morpheus, oneill@cambus.u-net.com  Feedback appreciated, as is criticism,
if constructive.

Thanks to oberon for inspiring one part of this.

A note to people. This is the story which I regularly write, my regular
series, if you will. But from now on I may delve into something else,
deeper. These stories are like comics, but I know I can write better. With
these, all I do is churn out plotlines and write it. No editors, (BTW, why
do people have editors for fanfic? It seems a bit strange, almost insecure.
IMHO) checking. As soon as I finish I send it. What I want to do is maybe
write something which I craft, instead of blast out. I want to write a
complex tale, or maybe some more intricate literature. Anyway, just to say
I might not write these as frequently, but I will write them.

{{blahblahbla}} is thoughts
^^blahblahbla^^ is telepathy

==============

	Apocalypse's energy beam travelled at a tremendous speed, but somehow
Robert Drake was faster. He had seen the eternal mutant charge his power,
and so Iceman prepared. As he saw the blast unleashed, he erected a thick
ice wall, protecting the Rebellion. The ice was shattered instantaneously,
but no Rebellion members were hurt. Apocalypse glared at Drake, and began
to grow in size. Before he could manage that however, he was struck by an
energy blast at his spine. The sheer power behind the blast brought Ennur
Sabah to his knees, and gave the Rebellion an opening. 

	The Inner Circle were taken aback by this ambush, and turned to see where
it had originated. They had expected to see Havok, arms aglow with seething
blue energy. What they saw was apparent betrayal. Sebastian Shaw, the
mutant standing at the back of the group, was surrounded by a halo of
crackling energy. His body was shifting, mutating, changing into something.
. .else. Then, his warped features took on a tangible shape, as tanned
flesh reformed into ghostly skin, and blue eyes changed to piercing red
ovals. Essex had returned.

	Logan suppressed a smile, and grabbed his chance with both hands. Everyone
else was stunned into inactivity, but Logan, second in strategic ability
only to Essex, knew better than that. Apocalypse was on his knees, and was
the easiest target for him. Mutant X would be monitoring his vicinity
constantly, and with his adamantium skeleton, going against Magneto would
not be a wise option.

	His claws bared, Logan leapt at the ageless mutant, and thrust his claws
deep into his torso. He drew them out, dripping with a blue substance.
Apocalypse looked up, gasping. ". .do not. . .dare. . ." Logan sneered at
him, and began slashing at the armour which protected his heart. Suddenly,
the cavern burst into activity once more, as Magneto dispersed Wolverine
with a brief blast of magnetism. 

	Essex saw this happen, and retaliated against Magneto by piercing his
shields with an energy blast. Earlier, he had witnessed Magnus use his
powers, so had been able to counteract them. One of Apocalypse's "gifts"
which Essex was certain Ennur Sabah regretted. He also knew what lengths
Magneto would go to in pursuit of victory, so wanted to keep him away from
Logan, lest he take advantage of his adamantium skeleton. Essex planned to
keep him occupied, and let the Rebellion deal with the other two. 

	He also knew that Xavier could not focus to use his telepathy effectively
when there was psionic interference, so Essex was creating a haze of static
over the battlefield. This would prevent any psionic communication,
limiting his contact with his allies. This was a price he was willing to
pay, if he could disable Xavier's ability to mindwipe people, an unfair
advantage.

	The battle was started anew, and as Mutant X regained his composure, he
shielded himself and Apocalypse behind a telekinetic field. Magneto was
pulling rock from the essence of the cavern, and hurling it with incredible
force at Essex. 

	It had no effect on the returned leader of the Rebellion though, as he
blasted the rock into harmless dust. Essex was blasting at Magnus
simultaneously, trying to conceive an idea to take him down. A quick glance
behind Magnus told him that his students were alright.

	Chrome, who had been frightened to do anything, was now distilled with
confidence from Essex's return, and began attacking Mutant X's shields. He
tried to transform the essence of them to a light material, but that put
too much strain on him. Instead, he focused on indirectly using his powers
to affect the powerful telepath. In an instant, the ground beneath Charles
Xavier was so much putty, and he began to sink into it.

	This was negated in seconds, as Xavier extracted himself with telekinesis,
and maintained his aloft position over the battlefield. He directed a teke
blast at Chrome, which knocked the young mutant backwards, headfirst into a
boulder. 

====

	On the other side of the cave, Maverick had his own problem to deal with.
A 400 pound problem, to be precise. Sabretooth, after being released, had
headed directly for the humans still in the cavern. Chamber, helping Abyss
to transport them, had fended him off with a psi-blast. Maverick arrived,
and hurried the transportation along. He stood next to Creed, waiting for
him to wake up. He did so violently, his claws tearing through stone like
water. His eyes were pulsating with rage, as he faced his new opponent.

	Within his animal mind, a feeling stirred far beneath the surface, out of
recognition. Hate. Creed hated Maverick with nearly the same passion as he
did Wolverine. Had he been possessed of his normal mind, as a man, he would
have planned, perhaps fled for high ground. But this man was gone. Only the
animal remained, and it was angry. Creed leapt at Maverick, and was struck
by a blast in the chest. Falling to earth, he recoiled into the foetal
position.

	Maverick took a few steps backwards, and recalibrated his guns for a
higher setting. He had only stunned Creed, but was ready to do much worse
if necessary. Sabretooth, like a lion with a thorn in its paw, padded over
to Maverick, eyes softened. He was confused, dazed by the blow. As his eyes
recognised Maverick once again, he lost any hint of control left within
him. His claws tore through David's leg, destroying cartilage and rending
ligaments. David fell to the floor, clutching it in agony. He knew what he
had to do know.

	He glanced over at the battlefield, seeing his teammates in danger. Creed
could not be allowed to go on another rampage. David closed his eyes, and
squeezed his finger on the trigger.

	As the icy grip of death closed over Sabretooth, there was first silence,
then a whimper. David would later swear that in his final moments, Creed's
mind had returned, and the last word to escape his mouth was "Sorry." It
was a moment David would analyse for years to come.

====

	An eternity away, another battle was taking place. The Rebellion had just
defeated the Marauders, when the Hellfire Club and Externals arrived.
Seeing this, Storm had ordered Deadpool and Clear Cut to take the wounded
and get far from the complex. Wade protested, but eventually teleported the
wounded out. 
	
	This was the Rebellion's first encounter with the Hellfire Club members,
and no-one had the faintest idea what their capabilities were. Those whose
eyes could pierce the veil of darkness at the top of the cavern would see a
winged angel, majestic in flight. Hanging from a stalagtite at the same
height was a horrific beast, to strike fear into the bravest heart. In one
corner of the cavern, a man radiated with electricity, drawing power from
the complex itself. 

	The mutants that had arrived hid in shadows, physically and telepathically
masked by Exodus and Selene. They were undetectable, but for brief displays
of power. When the point of origin was attacked, the mutant had vanished.
Suddenly, from nowhere came a blast of microwave energy. Nemesis. Morph was
struck by it, and fell to the floor, charred. 

	Then, Gambit vanished in a flash of silver, and returned seconds later,
bruised and bloody. The Rebellion crowded together, gazing into the
shadows, trying to break through the fog that clouded their sight. When
Banshee's arm was pierced with flying daggers, Jean Grey decided she'd had
enough. She spoke briefly with Legion, arranging a strategy with him. 

	As the shadows pulsed with energy once again, Jean cried out. "Enough!"
Suddenly, the combined telekinesis of Jean and Legion swept through the
cave, flushing out those in hiding. The effect was devastating, a blaze of
natural colours sweeping through the air. They effectively created a cocoon
of energy around the walls, pushing them from their hiding place into the
open. When they landed, the Rebellion seized their chance. Hawkeye streamed
arrows into them, using up half his quiver within a minute. Pete Wisdom's
hotknives slid into the heap of bodies on the floor, as they began to stir.


	Exodus was the first to rise, psionics flying from his hands, as he
hovered above the bodies beneath him. He was enraged, and the look in his
eyes negated any need for words. In an instant, he had blasted the roof of
the cavern, and erected a telekinetic shield around his comrades. Any
normal humans would panic at a time like this, but not the Rebellion. Each
member set themselves a task, regardless of their personal safety. Havok
blasted as much rubble as the could, as did the other energy powered
mutants, like Sunfire and Storm. Jean and Legion prepared to erect a shield
at the last moment, and did so. 

	Much of the rockfall had been destroyed, and as the blinding light of day
shot onto the battleground, the Rebellion watched their foes flee into the
labyrinth of caves. Storm watched, and knew they would not be so lucky next
time. They had wounded some of them, but that was from a surprise attack.
If they fought again this day, Storm feared they would be massacred. Before
another thought could pass, Speed Demon entered, and told her of the
situation.

	"Storm! The Inner Circle are here! In the caverns! Logan's team's fighting
them! Need help!"

	"Calm down, my friend," Ororo said, "I will organise a team to assist
Logan. For now, rest, and stay with the others. You have played your part
this day."

	She thought for a moment, planning, then turned to address the Rebellion.
She drew their attention with a lightning bolt to the center of the group.
	
	"Listen up everyone. We can stay no longer in this place. We must take our
leave, and hope that someday we will find Essex. Regardless, our base is
not safe here. Our power was drained by one of the Hellfire Club, and I am
certain they will demolish more of the area. I will lead a team to assist
Logan, and try to best the Inner Circle. I will need Havok, Sunfire, Doom,
Landscape and Helios. I want Blink to teleport everyone a safe distance
away, and my team will rejoin you later."

	Everyone looked surprised at the last two choices for her team, and Storm
explained why she had chosen them. "The Inner Circle will have no knowledge
of them, and their powers will come in useful for a strategy I have. Also,
I want Hawkeye and Gambit to search for Forge and Spiderman. They are
neither here or with Logan. Once you find them, Forge will be able to
contact Blink, who will teleport you away. Now, prepare to take your leave,
and may the goddess watch over you. G'journey." As the Rebellion began to
talk and organise plans, Legion walked over to Storm.

	"Storm, why wasn't I selected? I'm more powerful than any of them, and. .
I wanted to confront my father."
	
	"And that is why I did not select you. You are too valuable a warrior to
lose, and I fear your emotions may hinder you in battle."

	"I. . .understand, Storm." David walked away silently, lost in his own
thoughts. 

======

	Below, the Inner Circle were gaining the upper hand over the Rebellion, as
their powerful arsenal of tricks was overwhelming the relatively
inexperienced members. Logan could not affect this fight much, as
Apocalypse kept him at bay with energy blasts. Xavier was monitoring the
battle from a floating vantage point, deflecting energy attacks with a
thought. 

	Logan, seeing Apocalypse momentarily distracted by Maggot's slugs, drew
his team towards him, hoping for a full on assault. Speed Demon hammered
him with multiple blows, just as Maggot ordered his slugs onto his armor,
beginning to eat through it. Maverick used the last of his bio-charge in a
thundering blast of energy, pummeling the ancient mutant. Logan's claws
hacked at Apocalypse, before his defence systems activated. A blast of pure
psionic energy emanated from his chest, sending everyone flying away from
him. Iceman, who had hang back, fighting Mutant X, noticed that Apocalypse
was scarred from Logan's attack. He quickly made up a plan, and shouted
Chrome over to help him enact it.

	"I think I've got a way to defeat Apocalypse. But I need your help, and
Essex."

	"What do you want to do?"

	"I want you. . .to transform me into adamantium. It's the only thing which
has hurt Apocalypse."

	"But--you're--what about you? I might muck it up. Anyway, I don't know how
to make adamantium."

	"That's where Essex comes in. I know he'd be able to do it. The only risk
is to me, and I'm willing to take it. Essex can't fight him cos he made
Essex, and planted failsafes to prevent him directly hurting him. So, I
need you to focus, and I'll find a way to get Essex over here."

	Suddenly, a fierce blast of plasma energy tore into the battlefield,
separating the combatants. On the tunnel high above the arena, Havok stood,
surrounded by re-enforcement's. "Hello boys. Miss me?"

======

	Below, as the dust settled from the other battles, two men raced through
the caves, searching for signs of life. Gambit had suggested going to the
medi-bay, where Forge had been seen last. They kept an eye out for any
Hellfire Club roaming the ruined complex, ready for anything. What they
least expected was what they found next. Spiderman's body, singed and
bloodied beyond recognition. Only the red and blue costume told them who it
was. Hawkeye made a brief sign of the cross, in respect for Peter Parker,
killed before his time. They walked on in silence, and turned into the
medi-bay. 

	Gambit knew that the rubble would still be there from his trick earlier,
and also knew Forge wasn't there at the time. "He wasn't under de rubble
when it fell, so I tink he might be in de room at de back. But it'll take
us a while to get dere, through de rocks."

	"Not for me," Hawkeye replied. Before he had even finished talking, an
arrow had been drawn from his quiver, and readied. He let go, firing a hook
up to what remained of the roof. Pulling it to test its safety, he leapt
up, and swung. In seconds, he had landed in the room where patients
would've been kept, and was quickly scanning it. He saw the unconscious
form of Forge sprawled across the floor, and heaved him over his shoulder.
{{Jeez, ya think a guy with his brains would make a slimming machine or
sumthin'.}}

======

	Nearby, the fiery battle showed no signs of extinguishing, as Apocalypse
fought with fire renewed. Logan was the only one keeping pace with him,
trading blows in a toe-to-toe fight which Apocalypse indulged on a whim. He
could've dismissed the mutant with a gesture, but he wanted to best him
physically, without external aids. 

	When Essex left Magneto to help Iceman, Maverick took up the battle. He
was swift enough so that Magnus couldn't lock onto his blood, and dodged
any magnetic blasts he threw. He was storing energy from rockfall, and
would let stray shrapnel strike him so he could absorb its kinetic energy.
Everyone else was trying to overcome Mutant X, but his shields were proving
too powerful so far. Chamber's psi blasts were doing the most damage, and
Doom, who had been analysing the shields, seemed to have found something of
import. He was crouched in an alcove, tinkering with his gauntlets.

	Now, Essex was discussing Iceman's plan. "Robert, you do realise the risk
to you, don't you? You may not be able to revert to ice, nor human form,
and you cannot know if you'll be able to control a body composed of
adamantium. What about the effects on your organs?" Essex knew the answer
to this, but he was trying to dissuade Iceman from entertaining this folly.

	"My ice form is, for all intents and purposes, a different body. I doubt
my organs even need to function. When I turn to ice, I can shatter and
reform. I think the same would go for an adamantium body. If you just keep
Magneto occupied, I'll get at Apocalypse. Even if I can't control the metal
like ice, I'll be a mean, lean fighting machine." he said with a smirk.

	"Now is not a time for levity, Robert. Now, are you ready? Chrome, are
you?" Chrome, who looked worried, but not for himself, nodded. "Very well.
I wish you the best of luck, and pray I will be able to do this." Essex
closed his eyes and entered Chrome's mind. It always gave him a chill,
violating the sanctity of someone's mind. But this was a necessary evil,
which had to be undertaken if Apocalypse was to be stopped.

	When it happened, a light so pure, as to stir hope within the Rebellion
burst forth from Chrome, as his powers remade the genetic structure of
Robert Drake into adamantium. Drake screamed when he felt it, a searing
pain cutting deep to his being. It took only seconds, and when it was over
Iceman no longer an appropriate name. He shone with a radiance none had
ever witnessed, a silver glow surrounding his hardened form. He moved
tentatively, seeing how his new body felt. He flexed an arm, and it moved
smoothly. He looked at his skin, and it was shifting, mutating, as if
alive. He tried to project it, and it did, shooting ahead of him into the
earth. 

	Essex watched, dumbfounded. "I. . .I don't know what to say."

	"You don't need to say anything," Iceman said, "I'm gone." He rode the air
aboard a wave of metal, one of the strangest things you will ever see. He
departed near Apocalypse, who watched him in shock. He had never, in his
millennia long life, seen anything like it. Iceman took advantage of this,
and formed several razor sharp spears on his arm. One punch pierced his
arm, followed by a hail of blades to his heart. In seconds, Apocalypse was
lying near death on the floor, as Logan stood above him, claws ready. 

	He sheathed his middle claw, and put the remaining appendages under
Apocalypse's chin. "Drake here set ya up real good, an' now I'm gonna
finish the job. Ya've had this comin' a long time, 'specially after what ya
did to my daughter. I'm the best at what I do, ya know." He stared deep
into those immortal eyes, avenging a promise he made years ago. His third
claw shot out, piercing Apocalypse's brain. "An' what I do ain't pretty."

	For a moment so monumental, there should've been silence. Instead, a
blazing inferno raged behind them, as the battle continued oblivious.
Magneto still fought Essex, cascades of rock flying towards him. Essex had
watched his comrades in the Rebellion arrive, and saw Storm command them as
if she were born for the role. Havok and Sunfire joined Essex's attack on
Magneto, which bolstered the strain Magnus was under. Though one of the
most powerful and strong willed men alive, his shields could not long
withstand such a bombardment. This gave Essex a chance to examine the
battle, and saw what he wanted. Helios. Essex knew the potential the boy
had, and was a perfect weapon against Magneto. 

	{{Maybe, just maybe}} he thought, {{We could destroy the Inner Circle this
day.}}  

	Nearby, Charles Xavier watched as his friend was being slowly overcome by
an array of mutants. He wanted to warn him, tell him that they would have
to evacuate. But the psionic haze Essex was creating prevented him using
telepathy. It was taking all of his concentration to keep his telekinetic
shield up, and try to ward off his attackers. So far he was barely managing
to keep them at bay. Suddenly, he noticed a clad in full metal armour
appear in front of him. He pressed a button on his glove, and a jet of blue
energy struck Xavier's shields. 

	Abruptly, Xavier's shields fell, allowing Doom to begin a physical
assault. A blow to the head disoriented him, and as he rolled out of the
way, he felt a lightning bolt pass over his head, striking Xavier. He
looked at the telepath as he fell, his body singed and crackling. 

	Now, everyone remaining focused their attacks on Magneto, as multiple
energy blasts struck him. Essex, finally able to use his telepathy, reached
out to Helios. ^^Helios. Do not worry, I am simply using telepathy. I have
a plan that may allow us to defeat Magneto, but I need your help. I cannot
pierce his shields for long, but I think that you can.^^

	{{O-okay.}} Helios replied nervously. He had never mindspoke before, and
he was worried about the task ahead of him. {{What do you want me to do?}}

==

	Minutes later, the assault on Magneto relented, as Essex had commanded the
Rebellion to. Magneto looked confused at first, and was about to unleash a
blast of magnetism, when he heard a thundering crash. He looked to the
wall, and saw Exodus, eyes ablaze with psionic energy, looking furious. His
master, reduced to a bloody pulp, and only one of his leaders remaining
alive. In seconds, the Rebellion reacted to his arrival, Sunfire and
Maverick attacking simultaneously. 

	From the confusion caused by this entrance, Essex prompted Helios to make
his move. He moved behind Magneto, and began to use his powers. If Essex
had taught him right, he need only imagine the shields falling, and they
would. This would give the Rebellion enough time to strike, with finality.
Magneto felt the disturbance, and whirled around, enraged. Before he could
respond, he felt a sharp pain as his powers started to drain. Helios didn't
even know how he was doing it, but he heard Magnus cry out, in agony.

	It was now that Essex noticed that some of the Hellfire Club had returned
as well, and these mutants in particular were appalled at seeing Magneto in
this state. Quicksilver and Scarlett Witch, seeing their father in mortal
pain, sprung to action. Quicksilver ran to attack Essex, thinking he was
behind it. Just as Scarlett Witch realised who was behind it, so did
Exodus. He scattered his opponents with a wide psi-blast, and prepared to
help his only remaining leader. If he had only delayed his attack by a
nanosecond, what was to come might have been prevented. 

	Scarlett Witch unleashed a bolt of her powers, known to alter probability,
but also to warp reality as well. At the exact same moment, Exodus attacked
Helios telepathically and with psycho-kinetic blasts. Seeing these
approach, Helios erected a magnetic shield in front of him, from instinct
more than knowledge. 

	What happened next no-one could've predicted, such was the random nature
of it all. A breach in reality formed, and in the time it took Essex to
recognise it, the damage was done. It was a portal to the astral plane,
formed by the converging powers reacting with one another. And the psionic
plane, a haven of energy for telepaths, is not usually merged with the
physical plane. The energy unleashed scarred every living being on earth,
but the effects were deepest on those at ground zero. 

	As everyone reeled from this attack, only the telepaths were aware of how
deeply this would affect them. They could not feel their power, as if a
part of their soul had been wrenched out. 

	Above, in Apocalypse's Ship, a device began teleporting the remaining
Hellfire Club and Externals to their quarters. It had been pre-programmed
to do so if Apocalypse's life signs ever vanished from its scanners.

	As Essex surveyed the damage caused by the psionic disaster, he wondered
if their lives would ever be the same again.

===========

Whew. Before you all flame me, I know the ending's a bit like X-men 77, but
I had this idea in my head for a while, after reading something about the
Muir Isle Saga. It's also perfect for what I plan for the 'fic. Anyway,
mine's is brought about differently. If you want an explanation as to its
specifics, reply and I'll be happy to supply you with one. 

Anyhoo: Next issue, the Rebellion is separated! But will they be able to
re-unite? Or do they want to? Also, learn the full ramifications of the
Psi-wave and the battle with the Hellfire Club.


Roll Call
*********

Rebellion: Forge, Jean Grey, Deadpool, Daredevil, Hawkeye, Banshee,
Clear-Cut, Blink, M, Iron Man, Shang-Chi, Morph, Callisto, Glow (original),
Legion, Gambit, Marrow, Juggernaut, Wisdom, Sabra, Speed Demon, 

Essex, Wolverine, Maverick, Havok, Iceman, Chrome, Doom, Sunfire, Boost,
Maggot, Chamber, Abyss, Landscape, Helios (original), Storm

Hellfire Club: Angel, Hank McCoy, Shinobi Shaw, Quicksilver, Scarlett
Witch, Reed Richards, Emma Frost, Roberto daCosta, Mikhail Rasputin. Paige
Guthrie as slave

Inner Circle: Ennur Sabah (Apocalypse), Erik Magnus Lehnsherr (Magneto),
Charles Francis Xavier (Mutant X), Sebastian Shaw.

Marauders: Warpath, Thunderbird, Moonstar, Colossus, Jubilee, Polaris,
Wildchild, Omega Red, Scratch, Deflector (Reyes), Fenris, Sack, Vessel,
Skin, Nightcrawler, Unuscionne, Caliban, Aurora,  Pyro, Avalanche, Spoor,
Rictor, Dazzler, Meltdown, Siryn, Black Tom, Shadowcat, Multiple Man,
Random, Strong Guy, Firestar, Tusk, Wolfsbane, Feral, Magma. There's loads
more, but far too many to go into here. Sabretooth as prisoner

Externals: Gideon, Mimic, Cannonball, Nemesis, Exodus, Candra, Selene,
Crule, Absalom.

==========