For Better or For Worse

Chapter 13

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To say that they were shocked at what they saw would be an understatement.

They were utterly bewildered.

Apocalypse was no longer resting upon the rock.

Now he was battered and bruised and in the middle of pinning someone down on the ground; attempting, by all means necessary, to disable this person and kill them. Considering that all his horsemen were out of commission - except for Erik (he didn't know that Erik had succumbed to Raven's persuasion yet) - he was left to handle this situation by himself.

Charles squinted to try to make out the figure, under the god, who was desperately trying to free himself.

"Peter?!" Charles cried out, quite shocked and confused.

"What the hell?!" said Raven, equally confused.

Their exclamations caught the trapped speeder's attention. He jerked his head over the side, still positioned on his back, pinned down by the god above him, to look over at the people who had called him. But he didn't understand why they knew his name... he didn't know them - did he? His mind was blank and all he knew was that he had a mission to complete. To render his enemies defenseless and implant trackers in them so that Colonel Stryker - his master - could do with them as he wished. Peter was ordered to go for the kill only if worst came to worst. And his situation right now seemed about as bad as it could get. I mean, he was pinned under a mutant god for crying out loud. So, Peter desperately tried to move his left arm down to the utility belt on his waist. He succeeded and quickly whipped out a dagger and thrust it up into the blue mutant's side.

The god let out a cry of pain and anger, but it gave Peter just enough time to squirm out from beneath him and run away a little distance. His victory did not last very long, however, because all of sudden he was unable to lift his foot off of the ground. He looked down to try to figure out what was causing his dilemma and saw the problem right away. The sand beneath his feet had converged into a solid state around one of his feet, preventing him from being able to run.

Apocalypse began to make his way toward Peter, and he didn't look very happy.

"Hank," Charles said urgently, "Put me down and go help Peter, Erik will help me from here, I don't know why he is here but he is in a lot of trouble and if we don't help him quickly he could very well end up dead".

As Charles spoke, Erik could be seen running toward their group, abandoning all semblance of still being a horseman.

Hank tried to speak, to tell Charles that Peter was possessed and was the cause of the attacks on Remy, Kurt, Scott, and three of the horsemen, but Charles cut him off and sent him on his way to get Peter unstuck from the ground before Apocalypse could get to him. As he began sprinting in Peter's direction, he heard the Professor speak to him mentally, "We can save him" he said.

Erik ran over to Charles and tried to help him stand, but ended up bearing all his weight because, well, he couldn't stand.

"We need to get you back to the jet," said Erik urgently.

"Yes, but I think we can finish this, Apocalypse is already severely wounded thanks to our dear Peter"

"It doesn't matter, Apocalypse is too strong and we are outmatched, I mean, look at yourself Charles, you are fatigued and injured and half of your team is unresponsive... we don't stand a chance".

"But we do," said Charles as he looked to Jean fondly, "we have hope and we can accomplish this... all I have to do is get into his head, if I can just do that, we will be fighting on all grounds possible, I from the inside, and you from the outside".

Erik nodded, understanding what Charles was getting at, and also realizing that it was no use trying to persuade him differently.

Charles, smiling proudly at his friends and students, said, "Alright, Erik, help me back to the jet where can will concentrate on breaching Apocalypse's mind. Jean, Scott, and Raven, I will need you guys fighting out here on the frontline" he paused to look over in the direction of Hank, who was currently struggling to free Peter's foot - Peter, looking utterly unphased and blank, eyes as black as ever - and Apocalypse limping, with murder on his face, over toward the duo. "Hank will join you momentarily", he predicted.

"And what are we going to do about Maximoff" Scott spat out angrily.

Erik sharply turned to look at Scott, confused because the name he mentioned -- with much venom -- was like that of someone he used to know. He brushed it off quickly though, maybe it was just a common name. And with that, Erik refused to give it any further thought.

"We will tackle that problem after we have gotten rid of Apocalypse, after all, he seems to be after him just as much as he is after us, and we have him to thank for Apocalypse's current state".

Scott let out an angry huff.

"Continuously, in regards to Peter" continued the Professor, "do avoid seriously injuring him in any way... I think we can save him".

Erik disagreed with Charles's optimism; salvation rarely ever came in Erik's view.

Hank desperately clawed at the rock that was enveloped around the speedster's foot. Peter wasn't exactly that much of a help either, as kept trying to stab Hank and Hank had to try to swat him away every time.

"Ya' know, I'm trying to help you, you could try being a little more grateful," Hank grunted.

One last swipe with his claws and Peter's foot was free from the rock. Hank hadn't really thought this far ahead. Would Peter try to do to him what he had done to Kurt and the others? Hank held eye contact with Peter for a moment and thought that he saw - maybe - the slightest hint of understanding in Peter's darkened eyes. And, in an odd form of thanks, Peter punched him, once again, in the chest - completely winding him, and ran off. But Hank didn't complain since the silver-haired mutant had decided not to knock him out, at least not yet...

Hank focused his attention on Apocalypse then, who had now stopped his pursuit of Peter, seeing that he was now free.

"So," the blue god sneered and spoke loud enough for the whole team to hear, his booming voice echoing across the ruins, "what do you think of the little traitor!? HAHA" his laugh was the most evil sounding laugh that they had ever heard, "I saw into his eyes as he fought me, you think you will be able to save him, but you won't, you just need to dispose of him. He is working for the humans and I know part of it is out of free will... I saw into him, and how angry he is at life, the world, and at mutants. The mind control he was put under, only helped him make the decision that was already in his mind... He was always a traitor...". And Apocalypse smiled, knowing that this would have the desired effect on the team.

Erik stopped and bristled at what the god was saying.

"Erik, what he is saying is not true, none of this was Peter's choice... He is good".

"You try to convince yourself of these things, Charles, but you are lying to yourself..."