Dazzler investigates the sound

Alison wasn’t so sure that **** could move quick enough to circle around her, let alone know where she was headed. She didn’t even know exactly where she was headed. She concluded that this noise was coming from someone else, so she moved towards it.

Stepping up onto the main floor, Alison looked around. The building looked the same as the one she was in before. She entered the main foyer and searched around for the source of the noise. This section looked empty, so she started looking for a communication console to contact the main sector about what was going on.

“You look distressed, Ali, what is going on?” a voice cast out from the darkness.

Alison darted her eyes up and saw Psylocke emerge from the shadows.

“Betsy! It’s Remy, he’s reverted into his **** persona!” she warned.

Psylocke immediately became guarded, glowing bright pink as she manifested her mutant telepathy into a psyblade.

“We have to warn the others!” Alison stated.

“Then you go on ahead, I’ll make sure he doesn’t go any further,” Psylocke replied.

“He’s too strong for you to take on alone!” Alison warned. “He can corrupt you with his touch! I know all too well what we’re dealing with and we should go before he finds us!”

Psylocke eyed the entrance where Dazzler had come in, showing a tinge of disappointment that she wouldn’t be able to test herself against the formidable foe. She sighed softly and dissipated her blade. “Let’s go then,” she reluctantly said.

Psylocke led the way out to the main campus. In deference to stealth, they opted to climb through shafts and up vents in some sections of the dilapidation of the structure. On the way, Betsy revealed to Alison that she had been using that spot as a meditation and practice space because it was so isolated from the rest of the island. It was a good distance from the populated sector and Betsy didn’t bring a communicator with her either.

Alison could feel ****’s beckon as they crawled through the tight enclosure. It was like an itch that she needed to scratch.

“Are you alright, Ali?” Betsy asked, concerned over her friend’s heavy breathing.

“I’ll be fine…” Ali replied, forcing herself to trudge further.

They came out into an old sleeping quarter. The furnishings were utilitarian with a single bed, a desk and chair. Alison sat on the bed and caught her breath. She didn’t realize how fast her heart rate had become. She wiped her brow, which was covered in sweat.

“You don’t look fine to me,” Betsy observed with concern.

“I just… need a minute…” Ali replied, laying on the bed. In the back of her mind, she could hear ****’s voice. He was calling her name, while chuckling malevolently.

Psylocke watched her friend writhe on the bed touching herself and moaning softly. She was shocked to witness such a lurid display from her close friend. Something was definitely not right. She reached out with her mind to find out what was going on.

Psylocke sensed a presence. It was familiar, yet different. She realized she was sensing Gambit, under ****’s influence. It was the manifestation of the corruption he had planted on her. She could hear it speaking to her friend, coaxing her to succumb to it. Betsy couldn’t just stand back and let it happen. She dove in and called out, trying to drown out the malevolent voice..

“Alison, I am here with you, in your mind,” Psylocke explained. “Listen to me and only me…”

“No!” **** cried out from a distance. “She is mine!”

“I will sever your tie to her!” Psylocke announced, flaring up bright pink in Alison’s mind’s eye. Alison glanced over to see **** staring and glowering at the ninja. Psylocke was in full combat mode, psyblade out, ready to fight. **** smirked at this display, then chuckled to himself.

“My dear, Ms. Braddock!” **** said with a charm and confidence that suited the devil. “I don’t need to fight you.” He looked at Alison with a self assured smirk. “She is already mine, it’s just a matter of time… and you…” He grinned at Betsy, gleefully. “You will join my ranks willingly too! As soon as my corruption overtakes you!”

**** flashed next to Psylocke and placed his hand on her shoulder. His hand went dark, seemingly infusing his corruption into the X-woman. Psylocke swung her blade, slicing him in half.

“You are just an echo of ****, you have no power over me!” she told it. “And once I excise you and your corruption from Alison’s body, we’ll come for the real thing!”

**** looked pissed. He looked at his hand in astonishment, but quickly went to Dazzler’s side. “Oh, but the seduction has already taken hold in her!” he told Psylocke while pulling Dazzler up to him by the waist. The astral contact seemed to turn Dazzler even more onto ****’s side. She reached out and fawned over his chest, leaning in to neck him. As she did so, her skin grew pale and the color began to recede from her hair.

“Don’t give in, Alison!” Psylocke urged. She reached out to pull her friend away.

“I can’t…” Alison whispered. “I need him…”

She was lost to ****’s corruption. He stared at Psylocke victoriously as Dazzler removed her clothes and began to rub her body against his. “I may not be able to affect you with my corruption, but she is my absolute **** now!” **** laughed.