Road to Perdition

Posted on Thu May 16th, 2024 @ 12:36pm by Charles Xavier & Bliss Hawkins & Kennedy Kelly

1,738 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 4: The Savage ConneXion
Location: Savage Land
Timeline: September 2-4, 1990

On the next day of Bliss's confinement, she was awakened by a familiar voice inside her mind.

~Bliss, if you can hear me, try not to move~ It was the Professor. ~You are imprisoned, that much I know. I have managed to repair Cerebro but it is taking full power to penetrate the electromagnetic distortions surrounding the Savage Land. Tell me what happened~

Bliss took a deep breath but didn't move.
~Hey, nice to hear from you. But I'm going to need to ask some questions for operational security. Two questions, what did you say to my mother when she dropped me off at school the first time. And two, what did you think of my last paper?~

~You came to us alone in a stolen taxi cab and I told you that Cliff's Notes for "Hard Times" contains several inaccuracies~ The Professor's voice chuckled inside Bliss's mind. ~As delightful as you often are, Bliss, I cannot overstate the urgency of you telling me what happened. It is difficult to isolate minds through the barrier. For unknown reasons, I found you first~

Bliss rolled over to stare at the wall.
~I'm not joking around. I had to make sure it was actually you. I've been captured and my powers are on the fritz. I don't know where the rest of the group is, and I'm scared for them. I'm scheduled for execution but I'm not worried about me, I always get out of tough scrapes. Magneto and the rest of the team are nowhere near me. As far as I know I'm alone in the hands of the big bad, her name is Zaladane. She's got a way of stripping me of my power. They've been questioning me for info on our plans, but I've been telling them Darth Vader is coming to help our side. That seem to freak them out a little~

The Professor was alarmed by every piece of that explanation. ~There is something interfering with your mind. I cannot deduce what it is, although it is vaguely reminiscent of my stepbrother~ An image of Juggernaut entered her mind. ~Matters may be more complex than I had feared~

~I'm going to test and see if my powers are back~ Bliss thought.

~Be careful~ warned the Professor. ~I can sense guards near you~

~I understand, but I'm no damsel in distress. If I don't have my powers, I've got a little gift from Magneto in my sleeve. Little shiv of metal sharp and stiff enough to puncture skulls. I'm on my own here, and I'm going to make it count.~
Bliss attempted to reach out with her telekinesis to get a feel of her surroundings...

~Bliss...~ The Professor paused his admonition not to throw her life away. As painful as it was to admit, she was currently outside his ability to help at the moment. Isolated from the rest of the, bound and under armed guard, on her way to be sacrificed by a bronze age culture, there wasn't much that Xavier could tell her that wouldn't be an out and out lie. ~Just make sure the time is right. I will attempt to contact the others if I can manage to locate them. Whatever was done to your mind made you a brighter beacon than most, so there is that silver lining~

~Im not suicidal. But if I'm going to die I'm going to make it count for something. But if you could do me a favor, if this is it for me, can you let Connor know that he was the last thing on my mind before the end? I've had a lot of time to sit and stew. I don't have a lot of regrets, but I will miss having the chance to see him continue to grow and thrive. Maybe I've never really had a chance to love someone...but he always made me feel special. Maybe that's enough."

The fact that Magneto had somehow given her a shiv was a cold comfort as well, but it was better than nothing. Xavier took hope where he could find it. ~Speaking of Magneto, do you know where he is? His helmet is blocking me and I do not at all find that reassuring~

Bliss had to stifle a laugh at Xavier's question.
It was like stopping Marie Antoinette on the way to the guillotine to ask if she could direct them to the king.
~he's somewhere down here, he and Zaladane had words and then he was off to wrestle with dinosaurs or something. He didn't share his plans with me. For a guy with so much power, he could be a real bitch.~

~The geomagnetic disturbances have greatly weakened his power~ The Professor revealed. ~If that has not been made evident, then I commend him for his shrewd demeanor. If he is under attack, then he may not be in a position aid you~ A pause. ~Someone's coming~

The tent flap pulled apart to reveal the leathery boots that were the color of gangrene. Vertigo.

"Good morning, precious," she said with a sickly sweet tone that ended in a cackle. "Are we going to continue cooperating or do I get to drag you through the mud?"

~This one is shielded~ Xavier told Bliss. ~Her mind is difficult to penetrate. I wonder...~ His thoughts trailed off.

Bliss sighed. Now that her living embodiment of a conscience had deserted her once more, she was on her own again. She resolved she'd have to keep waiting for her chance with these slope headed mouth breathers. But payback was going be one hell of a bitch.

She turned to face Vertigo with a whimpered sob.
"Please...don't hurt me. I promise to be good."

An unexpected flash of a memory of a much younger Bliss cowering from a menace towering over her saying those very same words. The chill of fear from the memory coursed through her. She felt the shiv throb where it was hidden in the wrapping on her wrist.

"Let this one be a lesson to you should you change your mind." Vertigo snapped her fingers.

In response, two Swamp Men tossed a girl next to Bliss. She had wings easily as long as Ethan's, though not as robust. The way they were folded inside her rope bindings clearly indicated they had been broken. She let out a sob of pain as she landed, but otherwise she kept her pained expression to a quiet whimpering.

"Two bitches who wouldn't bow the knee to Empress Zaladane," said Vertigo with a cruel sneer. "You should have taken the offer when you had the chance. Now you both will die for the glory of the swamp gods."

“The Aerians will never bow to Zaladane, she is a mad tyrant.” The robed girl stood, a physical protest against the pain they had inflicted upon her. “My death will only further my father’s outrage, the Aerians will go to war over this.”

Laugher and jeers were provided in response to her outrage. But the robed figure stood tall until Vertigo and the guards departed. Once they were gone, the girl crumbled to the ground in a mess of desperation and frightened tears. Pulling her knees up into her chest, she sobbed under the cover of her oversized robe.

Bliss knelt down next to the brave girl, looking for any way to soothe her pain.
"Kid, you're very brave. And don't lose hope we're not done yet. We just have to find our moment and make it count."

Bliss attempted to try to use her powers. It has been a long time since the queen bitch head had whammyed her. She reached out and trying to blow the edge of the tent. It was a minimal goal, but she was hungry to make it happen.

The robed figure pulled back her hood to reveal her face to Bliss. While she was humanoid in figure and features, she was covered in feathers. Feathers of green and purple that had an iridescent sheen to them, the colors reminded Bliss of a hummingbird. She looked up at Bliss with sad golden eyes but there was a keen sense to them, like the eyes of a hawk.

“They are going to kill us.” She said in a defeated tone. “I have tried so many times to escape. They have broken my wings as punishment and I can no longer fly, it is hopeless now.” She started to cry as the reality of her demise overwhelmed her. She sobbed briefly before her composure returned, despite her moment of fragility the bravery Bliss had commented on reappeared. “I am Princess Alate of the Aerian Tribe.”

The blonde mutant smoothed her hand over Alate's uninjured arm.
"I'm Escapade of the X-Men, but you can call me Bliss. I don't wanna give you false hope, but my people have a reputation for getting out of tight spots and winning battles. And now, I think we have a fresh chance "

With that, she slipped the shiv of metal from her wristband and balanced it on her Palm so her new friend could see it. With a moment of focus, bliss stood the sharp sliver of metal up on her Palm. It twirled slowly, it's needle sharp ending catching The gleam of the dim light.

"I'm going to get stronger with this and when I'm ready, I'm going to hurt a lot of people with it."

Alate’s eyes lit up when she saw the shiv of metal in her hands. Weapons were almost impossible for a prisoner to obtain, she knew because she had tried. “How did you get such a thing?” The princess nodded her head in agreement with Bliss’ plan. “If you get me out of here and get me back to my people, my father will join in the rebellion against Zaladane.”

Alate glanced at the weapon in her hand once more. “I am small and flightless but if you need my help, I will aid you.”

More people returned. These didn't look like the warriors who had been hauling them around. Instead they looked leaner, more gaunt, barely a step above Bliss and Alate. Slaves, then. They hauled the two girls up, two men each to grasp them by the arms and feet, and carried them out to the same beasts as before.

Princess Alate was played by Kennedy Kelly.

RSS Feed